A woman has been charged with two counts of expressing support for Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation under UK law, police have confirmed.
Sarah Cotte, 20, of Camden, was arrested on 30 January 2024 and formally charged on 4 March following an investigation led by the Counter %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_0%% Command.
The charges relate to a public speech allegedly delivered by Cotte in October 2023, during which she is accused of endorsing and celebrating the 7 October attacks in %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_1%% and inviting support for those involved. A video of the speech was later shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
A second charge stems from similar comments allegedly made by Cotte in a %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_2%% group, further expressing support for the proscribed organisation.
Cotte is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_3%% on 24 March.
The Home Office designated %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_4%% as a terrorist organisation in its entirety in 2021, making it an offence to express support for or promote the group in the UK.
The %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_5%% have not released further details at this stage. The %%UKNIP_ANCHOR_6%% remains ongoing.
