Luton brother and sister charged with terror offences appear in court

A brother and sister from Luton charged with terror offences including training with wooden swords and booking a firearms course have appeared in court.

Mohiussunnath Chowdhury, 28, and Sneha Chowdhury, 25, were arrested in the Bedfordshire town by officers from the Metropolitan Police on July 3.

They appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today from custody. He wore a grey sweatshirt and white trousers, while she wore a black and grey headscarf and dress with a flowery pattern.

Mr Chowdhury is charged with one count of preparing acts of terrorism, one count of possessing a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism and one count of disseminating terrorist publications.

The preparing acts of terrorism charge relates to: carrying out weight, fitness and martial arts training; purchasing and training with bokkens (wooden training swords); booking a firearms training course; requesting and selecting a firearm; and researching and requesting that another person research potential attack targets.

He did not enter pleas at the hearing. There was no application for bail and he was remanded in custody ahead of his next hearing, where he will enter pleas.

Mrs Chowdhury admitted one charge of failing to disclose information relating to acts of terrorism between January 24 and April 12 this year at the hearing.

She denied an identical charge between April 13 and July 3 this year. The pair, both of Kirkwood Road, Luton, will appear at the Old Bailey on July 29.