Teen set to face trial accused of supporting IS

A 16-year-old boy is set to face trial accused of stockpiling weapons, explosives and a suicide vest at his family home.

The teenager, from Didcot in Oxfordshire, who cannot be identified due to his age, appeared at the Old Bailey by video link on Friday and spoke only to confirm his identity.

He faces a total of seven terrorism charges, that includes two of disseminating a terrorist publication, three of possessing an article for the purpose of terrorism, and two of possessing material that may be of use for terrorist purposes.

Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said his trial will likely take place in January but said she could not give a precise date or location yet.

He was not asked to enter any pleas during the hearing.

The boy, who converted to Islam as a teenager and is accused of supporting the group calling itself Islamic State, is said to have had swords in his possession as well as homemade explosives.

The family home was raided by counter-terrorism police on March 12.

The charges state he sent a video "containing footage of Islamic State" to another person in November last year.

The following month he shared a "battlefield video containing footage of Islamic State".

He is also accused of possessing extracts of IS manual Inspire 1, extracts of a document called 100 Deadly Skills, a suicide vest, a selection of knives and swords, and "homemade improvised explosive devices".

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