Two women have been charged after pictures of Hamas paragliders were displayed at a pro-Palestine march.
Heba Alhayey, 29, and Pauline Ankunda, 26, were charged under the Terrorism Act following the incident at a protest in London on October 14, the Crown Prosecution Service said.
The incident happened exactly a week after Hamas terrorists used paragliders to cross the border between Gaza and Israel, killing 1,400 Israelis in a horrifying massacre.
The two women, who are accused of inviting support for a banned terrorist organisation, have been bailed and will appear before a magistrates’ court on November 10.
The offence they are each accused of is contrary to section 13(1) of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Two woman have been charged after wearing pictures of Hamas paragliders at a pro-Palestine march, the Crown Prosecution Service said
Nick Price, head of the CPS special crime and counter terrorism division, said: ‘Following a review of evidence provided by the Metropolitan Police, we have authorised charges against two women who took part in a demonstration in central London last month.
‘Heba Alhayey, 29, and Pauline Ankunda, 26, have been charged with single counts of carrying or displaying an article, namely an image displaying a paraglider, to arouse reasonable suspicion that they are supporters of a proscribed organisation, namely Hamas, on Saturday, October 14 2023.
‘The pair have been bailed to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, November 10 2023.’
The Met Police said that the two women were arrested on October 30, released on bail until today and subsequently charged by the CPS.
The force said that it is still seeking the public’s help to identify a third woman, described as black, wearing a red coat and with a dark scarf containing a flower pattern and baggy jeans.
In a separate investigation, officers are also looking to identify a man seen waving placard with the words ‘I fully support Hamas’ on it during a protest on Bond Street on Saturday October 21.
Heba Alhayey, 29, and Pauline Ankunda, 26, were charged under the Terrorism Act following the incident at a protest in London on October 14, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Pictured: Protesters march for Palestine on October 14
He has short hair, light skin and is wearing a blue jacket with a light top underneath, a light stripy scarf around his neck, and light trousers or jeans.
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: ‘We have worked swiftly and decisively to investigate this matter and that has led to these two women being charged with terrorism offences only a week after issuing our public appeal.
‘We know that the public are very concerned about some people using the veil of legitimate protest to carry out criminal or even terrorist activity and we have shown that we will do everything we can to identify where that happens and that we will seek to bring those who may be responsible to face justice.’
This is a breaking news story. More to follow.