Police arrest alleged Islamist foreign fighter attempting to return to UK at Heathrow Airport

British man in his 20s had flown to Britain from Turkey

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Police have arrested a man suspected of fighting for a terrorist group in Syria as he tried to return to the UK.

The British national, who has not been officially named, was arrested after he arrived at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

The Independent understands that he is accused of fighting for an Islamist group in the ongoing Syrian civil war, and had returned to Britain on a flight from Turkey.

“Officers from the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command arrested the man, aged in his 20s, at Heathrow Airport at approximately 6.11pm on Wednesday 3 February,” a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said.

“He was arrested under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and taken into custody at a south London police station, where he currently remains.”

The man has been arrested on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism, which is used for people accused of fighting for terrorist groups including Isis abroad.

He was also arrested on suspicion of encouraging terrorism and disseminating terrorist publications.