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MI5 and police to remodel counter terror tactics

MI5 and police are to overhaul their counter terrorism operations in a new attempt to protect the public from further terror attacks. The main aim of the overhaul, which is to be the biggest shake-up of counter terrorism operations since 9/11, will be to find better ways of identifying when known extremists classed as ‘former subjects of interest’ suddenly decide to carry out attacks. These will include changes to improve the detection of ‘trigger’ activities which could indicate a switch to murderous intent, such as financial transactions and meetings. Measures to improve the way that police and MI5 officers work together to assess the risks posed by Islamist radicals are also expected. The changes follow reviews by both groups of what they knew about those who carried out this year’s terror attacks in London and Manchester. They are understood to have concluded that there was extensive intelligence available before both the Manchester and London Bridge attacks and that potential misjudgements were made in regards to both incidents. The reviews were first announced by Theresa May following the London Bridge murders in June, when she said she ‘recognised people’s concerns’ that opportunities to prevent those killings and the earlier attacks might have been missed.

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