Man Nabbed for Wearing Terror Group T-Shirts in North London
Feras Al Jayoosi, 34, from Swindon, sparked outrage after being spotted sporting two T-shirts tied to banned terror groups in Golders Green, north London. On 8 and 9 June, he was seen wearing one tee with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) logo and another bearing the Hamas Izz al-Din al-Qassem Brigades emblem – both outlawed terror outfits.
Police Launch Rapid Counter-Terror Probe
Local reports quickly reached police, triggering a swift investigation by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15). Detectives soon identified Al Jayoosi as the man behind the provocative clothing and arrested him at his Swindon home on 11 June. Further checks revealed he had worn the Hamas-branded T-shirt in Swindon back on 30 May.
Sentenced to Community Punishment and Ban
Al Jayoosi appeared at magistrates’ court on 12 November and admitted four counts of wearing terror group paraphernalia in a way that could suggest support for a proscribed organisation, under the Terrorism Act 2000.
On 17 December, he was sentenced to 16 weeks in prison, suspended for two years. The court also handed down 60 days of rehabilitation, 100 hours of unpaid work, and slapped a two-year exclusion zone banning him from the NW11 postcode where he was spotted. He must pay £160 in costs plus £128 court fees.
Police Urge Public to Report Suspicious Activity
Commander Richard Smith of SO15 said: “Al Jayoosi’s actions caused a great deal of concern within local communities, and an investigation was quickly launched as a result of a call to police.”
“This case further underlines how important information from communities is to our work, and how seriously we take reports of this nature. I would urge anyone with concerns or suspicions about crime, or indeed any potential terrorist activity in their neighbourhood to call police – we will listen, and we will act.”
If you spot suspicious behaviour, call police confidentially on 0800 789 321 or report via Action Counters Terrorism (ACT).
