Serving police officer arrested on suspicion of supporting Hamas

A serving police office in South West England has been arrested on suspicion of supporting the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The officer, a constable aged in his thirties, was arrested on Tuesday in Gloucestershire by counterterrorism police, who said the suspected support “relates to activity online”.

He has been taken to a police custody unit outside Gloucestershire.

Specialist officers from Counter Terrorism Policing South West (CTPSW) made the arrest on a property in Gloucester, and also searched a vehicle and address in the area, police said.

Gloucestershire Police Assistant Chief Constable Arman Mathieson said the searches aimed to find digital devices for analysis.

“The arrest of a serving officer on suspicion of such a serious offence will no doubt cause our communities concern, as it does everyone who works for Gloucestershire Police,” he added.

Read more: BBC News