Teenagers face trial in London court on far-right terrorism charges unrelated to UK riots

LONDON — Two teenagers were due to appear in a London courtroom on Friday on far-right terrorism charges unrelated to the country’s recent riots, police said.

Rex Clark, 18, from London, and Sofija Vinogradova, 19, from Cheshunt, north-east of the city, are accused of preparing terrorist acts. Vinogradova is also charged with two counts of collecting information that could be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

Police said their investigation is ongoing, but they do not believe there is a wider threat at this time.

“These are extremely serious allegations but I would urge the public to stop speculating about this case,” said Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism force.

Vinogradova was initially arrested on August 4 on suspicion of possessing a weapon and collecting information that could be useful to a terrorist. She was arrested again on August 10 with Clark, and police obtained a warrant for her arrest.

Murphy said the charges were not related to the recent unrest that has gripped much of England and roiled Belfast, Northern Ireland. More than a week of violent clashes with police erupted on July 30 after far-right agitators spread misinformation online that incorrectly said the suspect in a stabbing that killed three girls at a theme dance class Taylor Swift was a Muslim asylum seeker.

The two teenagers were due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.