Plod makes move on terrists + Postscript

The BBC report Irfan Raja, 18, from Ilford, Essex and Awaab Iqbal, 18, from Bradford, both described as students" being charged with making a record of information likely to be
useful to a terrorist under Section 58 of the Terrorism Act. (Under which Abu Hamza was charged for possessing the Encyclopaedia Of The Afghani Jihad)
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58. - (1) A person commits an offence if-

(a) he collects or makes a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a

person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or

(b) he possesses a document or record containing information of that kind.

(2) In this section "record" includes a photographic or electronic record.

(3) It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under this section to prove that he had a reasonable excuse for his action or possession.
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Mr Raja was arrested on February 27 after attending a police station in London. Mr Iqbal was held at his home in Bradford last Thursday.

The full charge against Iqbal, who turns 19 today, alleges that between February 23 this year and March 3 this year he "possessed a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism".

The full charge against Raja alleges that between December 31 last year and February 24 this year he "made a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism" .

Both men were due to appear before Bow Street Magistrates in London today.

Two other men (unnamed) arrested (described by the Mirror as students) in Bradford last week are still in custody.

POSTSCRIPT 10th March 2006

Irfan Raja, 18, from Ilford, Essex, and 19-year-old Awaab Iqbal appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court on Thursday 9th March 2006 accused of making a record of information likely to be useful to a terrorist under Sec. 58 of the Terrorism Act.

Lawyers for the pair indicated both would be pleading not guilty - counsel for Mr Iqbal saying the charges had "absolutely no foundation".

Mr Iqbal a first-year forensic science student, at Bradford University,was arrested at his home in Bradford last week had an application for bail refused.

Earlier, Mr Raja had made no application for bail after the Prosecutor Deborah Walsh said the charge against Mr Raja related to information he had allegedly collated and downloaded using a computer.

Senior District Judge Timothy Workman remanded the pair in custody until 16 March and told them they would face a committal hearing on 6 April.

Recent blogs on same topic here