British police officer arrested on suspicion of 'supporting Hamas'
Pro-Palestine protesters block Parliament Square as UK falls silent on Remembrance Day
Reuters
A police officer in Gloucestershire has been arrested on suspicion of supporting the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas.
The officer was detained yesterday by counterterrorism police who said the suspected support is related to his online activity.
Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South West arrested the constable on a property in Gloucester, and also carried out searches of an address and vehicle in the area.
The police officer was then taken to a police custody unit outside Gloucestershire.
Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South West arrested the constable in Gloucestershire
GettyArman Mathieson, assistant chief constable at Gloucestershire Constabulary said this search was part of an investigation aimed at finding digital devices for analysis.
He said: “The arrest of a serving officer on suspicion of such a serious offence will no doubt cause our communities concern, as it does everyone who works for Gloucestershire Police.
“The arrest has been made to allow for a prompt and effective investigation to take place and we must not draw any conclusions at this stage.”
Expressing support for a proscribed terrorist group is illegal, as stated under section 12 of the Terrorism Act.
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Offenders can spend up to 14 years in prison and/or face fines.
Hamas was designated a terrorist organisation in the UK in 2021.
The group orchestrated the October 7 terror attack in Israel, the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
Over 1,200 people were killed in these attacks and 251 were taken hostage, of which more than 90 remain in Gaza, both dead and alive.
Over 1,200 people were killed in the Hamas terror attack
ReutersIsrael retaliated, launching a military campaign to destroy Hamas, an action which, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has killed over 43,000 people in Gaza.
A week after the Hamas attacks, the UK government’s independent reviewer of terrorism said that speeches made at pro-Palestinian rallies may have glorified terrorism.
Then-home secretary Suella Braverman said "the full force of the law" should be used against supporters of Hamas.
In April, a man was found guilty of wearing a headband supporting Hamas at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London.
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