Anzac Day 'terror plot': Youngest Briton ever charged with terror offences appears in court over 'beheading plan at Australia war ceremony'

Australian and New Zealand soldiers take stand during the ceremony celebrating the 99th anniversary of the Anzac Day in 2014

A 14-year-old British boy accused of encouraging a man in Australia to carry out a terrorist beheading and attack a war remembrance event has appeared in court.

The teenager from Blackburn - thought to be the youngest person charged with Islamist-related terror offences in the UK- was remanded in custody to youth detention accommodation after District Judge Emma Arbuthnot turned down a bail application at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London.

The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was charged yesterday with two counts of inciting terrorism overseas.

He was arrested after police allegedly uncovered communications with an 18-year-old man in Australia. No details of the communications have been released as they form part of the investigation, Australian police said.

Five Australian teenagers were also arrested over the alleged plans to attack at an ANZAC Day ceremony in Melbourne. Police said evidence suggested that the plot involved attacking police officers.

Sevdet Besim making in Isis-associated sign in a picture posted to Instagram in March 2015 (Sevdet Besim/Instagram)

Sevdet Besim making in Isis-associated sign in a picture posted to Instagram in March 2015 (Sevdet Besim/ Instagram)

One of the Australian teenagers has been identified by Australian media as Sevdet Besim from Narre Warren, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne.

The alleged plot is said to have involved targeting police officers at the ceremony marking the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps’ First World War battle in Gallipoli on April 25.

Between March 15 and 26 the British teenager is said to have incited another person to commit an act of terrorism, "namely to carry out an attack at an Anzac parade in Australia with the aim of killing and/or causing serious injury to people".

It is also alleged that on March 18 he incited another person to behead a member of the public in Australia.

The boy, dressed in a police-issue grey tracksuit, spoke in a soft voice and stood with his arms folded as he confirmed his name, age and address at the start of the hearing.

ANZAC Day is the annual April 25 commemoration of the 1915 Gallipoli landings - the first major military action fought by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps during World War I.

PA