Westminster Magistrates Court. Pic: David Hawgood

A 33-year-old man from Bellingham has been charged with terrorism offences following his arrest in a series of counter-terrorism raids earlier this month.

Anthony Small appeared today at Westminster Magistrates’ Court alongside four other men from London on charges that he allegedly aided two other east London men in their preparations to leave the UK for Syria.

The two men suspected of attempting to travel to Syria to fight alongside Islamic State were Michael Coe, 33, and Simon Keeler, 43. They were arrested on November 30 at Dover, with raids in London on December 1 and December 4 seeing the arrest of Small and two other men.

Police say that Zagum Perviaz and Hamzah Safdar, who are also from east London, were involved in the production of false documents found on Coe and Keeler on their arrest.

Small has been charged with preparation and assisting others with preparation of acts of terrorism, support of proscribed organisation and conspiracy to possess false identity documents.

Police believe Small planned to travel to Syria at a later date.

The five men have been remanded in custody. They will appear before the Central Criminal Court next year.