A DUAL Dutch-Irish national has been charged with firearms offences after he was stopped at the Port of Dover, with police seizing a number of weapons and ammunition.
Khalid Ahmed, 24, of Ealing, West London, was charged on Tuesday, March 31, with 10 counts of possession of a prohibited weapon, contrary to section 5 of the Firearms Act, 1968.
He was also charged with one count of possession of prohibited ammunition.
Ahmed appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today, where he did not enter a plea, and was remanded in custody until April 24, when he will appear at the Old Bailey.
Self-loading pistols
Ahmed was stopped and detained under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, 2000 as he arrived into Dover from France on Thursday, March 26.
He was spoken to by Counter Terrorism officers and his vehicle was searched, after which a number of weapons — later identified as self-loading pistols — were found in the vehicle and he was subsequently arrested.
Due to the circumstances, the investigation was led by officers from Counter Terrorism Policing London and officers carried out a search in West London.
Ahmed was taken to a London police station and, following his initial arrest, was further detained under section 41 of the Terrorism Act, 2000.
A warrant of further detention was obtained from Westminster Magistrates' Court on Saturday, March 28 and he was subsequently charged on Tuesday.
No imminent threat
"We appreciate this news may be concerning to the public but since this arrest took place, we have been carrying out a number of enquiries and to date, we have not identified any imminent threats to the public relating to this," said Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London.
"Given the man has been charged, it is important there is no further speculation about the case while criminal proceedings are ongoing.
"But I can reassure the public that our investigation remains ongoing to ensure that the public is kept safe."
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