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 Terrorism 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 Israel 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 WhatsApp group, further expressing support for the proscribed organisation.
Cotte is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 24 March.
The Home Office designated Hamas 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 Metropolitan Police have not released further details at this stage. The investigation remains ongoing.
