Britain is facing serious far-right terrorism threat, top UK officer says

By Michael Holden

 

FILE PHOTO: The then assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Mark Rowley answers journalists questions after reading a statement regarding the latest security arrangements in Britain following attacks in Tunisia and France, outside New Scotland Yard in London, Britain June 27, 2015. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain faces a new and significant threat from organised far-right terrorism, the UK's most senior counter-terrorism officer said on Monday as he revealed police had foiled four plots by right-wing extremists in the last year.

 

"The right-wing terrorist threat is more significant and more challenging than perhaps public debate gives it credit for," Mark Rowley, London's Assistant Commissioner, told reporters.

 

Britain has been a prime target for homegrown and foreign Islamist militants since the 2001 attacks on the United States. But Rowley said until the last two years, far-right activity was limited to unpleasant protests and hate crimes, with serious incidents limited to the actions of isolated individuals.

 

The MI5 domestic spy agency are now involved in investigating the far-right and he warned that British groups were seeking links with international extremists.

 

"It's a significant part of the terrorist threat. Right-wing terrorism wasn't previously organised here," Rowley said.

 

"There are many Western countries that have extreme right-wing challenges and in quite a number of those the groups we are worried about here are making connections with them and networking," he said, declining to give further details because it was a new, live intelligence phenomenon.

 

Last year, there were five deadly militants attacks in Britain including one carried out by a man who drove a van into worshippers leaving a London mosque after developing a hatred of Muslims by reading extreme right-wing material online.

 

The previous year, a Nazi-obsessed loner murdered lawmaker Jo Cox in a frenzied street attack a week before the referendum on the European Union. Since then, Britain has banned National Action and two other spin-off groups, the first extremist right-wing organisations to be outlawed since the 1940s.

 

"COMMITTED TO VIOLENCE"

 

"For the best part of 18 months in the UK we have a homegrown, white supremacist, neo-Nazi terrorist organisation that is pursuing all the ambitions of any other terrorist organisation committed to violence," Rowley said.

 

"That should be a matter of great concern for all of us."

 

Since the first of the 2017 deadly attacks last March, Rowley said police had foiled 10 Islamist conspiracies and four far-right plots, although he said he could not provide details of these as they were subject to ongoing court cases.

 

To show the overall scale of the threat Britain faced, he said there were 600 terrorism investigations currently ongoing involving more than 3,000 suspects.

 

Over the last three years, terrorism arrests had doubled while in the same period some 2,000 people have been referred to the government's counter-radicalisation Prevent programme, with a third of these over far-right concerns, he said.

 

Rowley, who next month steps down from the role he took on in 2014, said Islamist and far-right extremists were a toxic combination, feeding off each other and pursuing the same agenda of division, fear and hatred.

 

He reiterated British concern about extremists' use of the internet and said he expected technology and internet firms would react to a mixture of persuasion and regulation as the banking sector had done.

 

He also said it was important that an agreement struck with the European Union for when Britain leaves the bloc in 2019 did not damage relations with their European colleagues.

 

"Whatever the arrangements, we need something that provides at least a good a platform for cooperation as we have today," he said.

 

(Reporting by Michael Holden, editing by Guy Faulconbridge)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-02-27

Well there's some politically correct-don't upset our new guests-deflect from the real issue-look over there!!-propaganda for you!

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. Many British I'm sure along with EU are feeling that their values are being watered-down by non-conformist immigrants unable to embrace their values. I'm not surprised things are kicking-off, and I'm sure this problem will only spread.

2 hours ago, Blackheart1916 said:

Well there's some politically correct-don't upset our new guests-deflect from the real issue-look over there!!-propaganda for you!

Perhaps, there's a senior police officer with real knowledge of the security situation telling it as it is. 

 

That might upset your view of who is a terrorist, but I'll trust the views of the police officer with firsthand knowledge over some barstool pundit.

We are reaping what we have sown from our disastrous foreign policy, open borders and a politically-correct police force which cares more about upsetting immigrants than bringing to justice imported perverts who play pass-the-parcel with vulnerable British children.

 

Plod needs to get his priorities right.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"For the best part of 18 months in the UK we have a homegrown, white supremacist, neo-Nazi terrorist organisation that is pursuing all the ambitions of any other terrorist organisation committed to violence,"

Looks like foreign jihadists will have to wait their turn to conduct terrorism in the UK.

The Home Boys are already wired for it.

Many European countries, including Britain, are heading for inevitable civil wars sooner or later. The mainstream political parties, of all colours, are squarely to blame for this. This BS propaganda from the police is simply a way of justifying their crackdown on dissenting voices and nasty online comments.

1 minute ago, 4737 Carlin said:

Many European countries, including Britain, are heading for inevitable civil wars sooner or later. The mainstream political parties, of all colours, are squarely to blame for this. This BS propaganda from the police is simply a way of justifying their crackdown on dissenting voices and nasty online comments.

This 'BS Propaganda' is actually a report of real terrorism threats. 

 

But you struggle with that because the perpetrators don't fit the narrative you have swallowed. 

 

i.e. the narrative at the root of the civil strife you predict.

 

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

This 'BS Propaganda' is actually a report of real terrorism threats. 

 

But you struggle with that because the perpetrators don't fit the narrative you have swallowed. 

 

i.e. the narrative at the root of the civil strife you predict.

 

Ok - I'll admit these far-right terror threats are probably not BS but they will be used to justify a crackdown on 'hate speech' ie. anyone who questions the multi-cult utopian fantasy BS.

The right wing activists in the UK are essentially cowards and bullies, as well as being none too bright.

I would have no objection to them being rounded up and locked up, following due process, of course.

I have seen them marching through a UK city and what a sorry and pathetic bunch of halfwits they look too.

1 hour ago, Srikcir said:

Looks like foreign jihadists will have to wait their turn to conduct terrorism in the UK.

The Home Boys are already wired for it.

 

From the OP:

 

Quote

Since the first of the 2017 deadly attacks last March, Rowley said police had foiled 10 Islamist conspiracies and four far-right plots,

 

Room for everyone.

55 minutes ago, 4737 Carlin said:

Many European countries, including Britain, are heading for inevitable civil wars sooner or later. The mainstream political parties, of all colours, are squarely to blame for this. This BS propaganda from the police is simply a way of justifying their crackdown on dissenting voices and nasty online comments.

 

"Many European countries, including Britain, are heading for inevitable civil wars sooner or later."

 

"BS"

 

Off topic posts and replies have been removed.  

56 minutes ago, champers said:

The right wing activists in the UK are essentially cowards and bullies, as well as being none too bright.

I would have no objection to them being rounded up and locked up, following due process, of course.

I have seen them marching through a UK city and what a sorry and pathetic bunch of halfwits they look too.

Which group was that ?

You can only push people so far. Not condoning any acts of terrorism or violence, but I'm not at all surprised by it.

1 hour ago, champers said:

The right wing activists in the UK are essentially cowards and bullies, as well as being none too bright.

I would have no objection to them being rounded up and locked up, following due process, of course.

I have seen them marching through a UK city and what a sorry and pathetic bunch of halfwits they look too.

 

And would you advocate the same treatment for extreme left-wing activists and religious based terrorist fanatics?

3 minutes ago, Baerboxer said:

 

And would you advocate the same treatment for extreme left-wing activists and religious based terrorist fanatics?

Yes.

1 minute ago, champers said:

Yes.

 

And even treating all of them, strictly, is the only answer. But of course, isn't PC so won't happen.

3 minutes ago, Myran said:

You can only push people so far. Not condoning any acts of terrorism or violence, but I'm not at all surprised by it.

Whoever the right wing extremists are, they are morons. Extreme right wing are only achieving diversion of counter terrorism resources away from Islamists. Ever heard about a far right organisation actually achieving any benefit for democratic society? No, only as the OP states "agenda of division, fear and hatred" which a number of TV members are unfortunately examples.

11 minutes ago, alfieconn said:

Which group was that ?

The EDL. They were all corralled in a pub before their march and after their fill of Dutch courage were allowed to lay a wreath at the war memorial. This was acompanied by a forest of Nazi salutes, probably their idea of a "tribute" but actually a huge insult to people who died fighting the likes of them.

So we've had 2 lone wolf attack's from nutter's in recent time's who are were Right wing , we've also had  approx 40 deaths, hundred's injured and maimed by Islamic extremist's, thousands of girls groomed and raped by Muslim men all over the country, Isis figher's returning to the UK in their hundred's, Sharia law introduced in some area's of the country, i think he need's to get his priorities right !

1 minute ago, alfieconn said:

So we've had 2 lone wolf attack's from nutter's in recent time's who are were Right wing , we've also had  approx 40 deaths, hundred's injured and maimed by Islamic extremist's, thousands of girls groomed and raped by Muslim men all over the country, Isis figher's returning to the UK in their hundred's, Sharia law introduced in some area's of the country, i think he need's to get his priorities right !

 

How so? The OP does not deny or ignore Islamic terrorism,  nor does it imply that right wing attacks are worse or represent more of a danger.

2 hours ago, champers said:

The right wing activists in the UK are essentially cowards and bullies, as well as being none too bright.

I would have no objection to them being rounded up and locked up, following due process, of course.

I have seen them marching through a UK city and what a sorry and pathetic bunch of halfwits they look too.

But still yet to mow innocent people down with vehicles or chop off their heads eh? 

3 minutes ago, Blackheart1916 said:

But still yet to mow innocent people down with vehicles or chop off their heads eh? 

The guy from Wales mowed down people. He seems to have been

judged as mentally ill.

I despise the terrorists acting in the name of Islam.

I would put all these nutjobs together in prison and let them sort out their differences under the gaze of armed guards.

There were no Islamic terrorists in the 1970s when the National Front was on the march. I would suggest that the start of Islamic extremism started when Western countries started bombing the hell out of Muslim countries.

4 minutes ago, champers said:

The guy from Wales mowed down people. He seems to have been

judged as mentally ill.

I despise the terrorists acting in the name of Islam.

I would put all these nutjobs together in prison and let them sort out their differences under the gaze of armed guards.

There were no Islamic terrorists in the 1970s when the National Front was on the march. I would suggest that the start of Islamic extremism started when Western countries started bombing the hell out of Muslim countries.

Bit of a daft statement there, or you just talking about the UK?

 

Was plenty of Islamic terrorists about in the 1970s conducting murderous operations around the world... maybe you missed the news back in them days; there was a plane hijacking nearly every other week, do you think it may be the fault of a faith which does not seem to integrate too well with anything else? Diversity?? 

18 minutes ago, champers said:

I would suggest that the start of Islamic extremism started when Western countries started bombing the hell out of Muslim countries.

More like Western Countries began bombing Muslims countries BECAUSE of Islamic terrorism .

Hope everyone can remember the jackal 70s/80s..islamic scummer

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3 hours ago, champers said:

The right wing activists in the UK are essentially cowards and bullies, as well as being none too bright.

I would have no objection to them being rounded up and locked up, following due process, of course.

I have seen them marching through a UK city and what a sorry and pathetic bunch of halfwits they look too.

Which process would you like to see in order to "lock them up "?

Its no illegal to be "right-wing" , "cowards , "bullies" or " none too bright"

On what charges would you like to see them jailed for ?

Could be that you are a lefty , who doesnt believe in free speech and you would like anyone whom you disagree with, to be silenced ?

2 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Which process would you like to see in order to "lock them up "?

Its no illegal to be "right-wing" , "cowards , "bullies" or " none too bright"

On what charges would you like to see them jailed for ?

Could be that you are a lefty , who doesnt believe in free speech and you would like anyone whom you disagree with, to be silenced ?

Well you can face gaol for being a member of these organisations: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/further-extreme-right-wing-groups-banned-in-the-uk

 

Please accept the apologies of Amber Rudd and the Tory party, who proscribed these far right organisations, I'm sure neither she nor her party did so with direct intent of making hogwash of your claim that banning extremism is the reserve of the 'lefty' wing in politics.

 

6 hours ago, Blackheart1916 said:

Well there's some politically correct-don't upset our new guests-deflect from the real issue-look over there!!-propaganda for you!

Completely agree, absolute political BS all because they're too afraid to deal with the real issues for being labelled racists! SPINELESS W×÷=%_S