Teenager appears in court accused of plotting terror attack

A 17-year-old girl has appeared in court accused of plotting a terror attack in the UK.

The teenager, from London, is alleged to have married an Islamic State fighter in Syria and arranged to receive hand grenades and a firearm in order to conduct the attack.

She is also accused of receiving instructions on how to use the weapons and asking for help in carrying out the plot.

The court was told that she married the fighter with the self-proclaimed terror group in September 2016 via online message service Skype.

It is alleged she was "effectively going to receive 'pineapples', otherwise known as hand grenades, and a firearm, and intended to carry out a terror attack in the UK".

The court was told the teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had planned to travel to Syria in August 2016 but this plan was thwarted.

The allegations cover the period between December 1 2016 and April 12 2017.

At Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, her lawyer Vajahat Sharif indicated the girl would plead not guilty.

The girl, who spoke only to confirm her name and age, was wearing a Nike tracksuit and had long black hair, tied in a ponytail.

District Judge Tan Ikram remanded her in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on August 11.

She will also appear there on the same date in relation to another terror offence for which she had previously been charged.