A MAN arrested in Church under the Terrorism Act of 2006 has been charged.

Security guard Ilyas Iqbal, 21, of Percival Street, Blackburn, was arrested at Express Gifts on Henry Street on Thursday 14 August.

He has been charged with.

  • Possessing an article in circumstances which gave rise to a reasonable suspicion that it was for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism. 
  • Collecting or making a record of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

Two other men, who were arrested at Manchester Airport on the same day, have also been charged.
Ishaq Kanmi, 22, of Cromwell Street, Blackburn, has been charged with:

  • Soliciting murder. 
  • Belonging or professing to belong to a proscribed organisation (Al-Qaeda). 
  • Inviting support for a proscribed organisation. 
  • Dissemination of terrorist publications.

Abbas Iqbal, 23, of Percival Street, Blackburn is charged with: 

  • Dissemination of terrorist publications. 
  • Possessing an article in circumstances which gave rise to a reasonable suspicion that it was for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism.

All three men were scheduled to appear before Westminster magistrates on Friday.