Isis 'follower' arrested in east London on suspicion of collecting information 'useful' for planning terror attack

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A suspected Isis member has been arrested in east London on suspicion of collecting information in preparation for a terror attack.

The 32-year-old man, who has not been named, is also charged with being a member of a banned organisation, the so-called Islamic State, and “encouraging terrorism”.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said he was arrested by the force’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15) in Newham on Saturday morning.

“He has been taken into custody at a south London police station,” she added.

A statement listed charges including “collection of information which may be useful to somebody who commits or prepares acts of terrorism”.

In September, Isis spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani issued a message urging supporters to carry out attacks abroad, specifically mentioning Europe in his call for bloodshed.

Last month, he issued another call to arms, saying any loyalist who has the opportunity to "shed a drop of blood" should do so.

His statements may have inspired gunmen in Australia, France and would-be terrorists who planned an attack in Belgium.

Isis was put on the UK's list of proscribed terror organisations in June last year as it waged its bloody campaign to establish a hard-line Islamic caliphate in Iraq and Syria.

An unknown number of British-born jihadists have travelled to join the group and authorities are attempting to stop anyone returning and planning attacks on home soil.

Britain has faced four major terror plots in the past year, with three in recent months, according to the head of MI5.