Man jailed after terrorism-related police station attack

A man has been sentenced for attempted murder and nine other offences following a violent attack at Talbot Green Police station on Friday 31 January.

Alexander Dighton was given a life sentence with a minimum of 22 years and 235 days minimum after the court confirmed the incident to be terrorism related.

The 28-year-old was seen on CCTV arriving across the street from Talbot Green Police Station carrying a long wooden pole and a large rucksack that contained a hatchet, propellant and tobacco tins. He was seen attempting to set fire to police vehicles.

After lighting a small fire under a police van, Dighton smashed the windows of the vehicle with his wooden pole.

Police officers arrived and ordered him to drop the weapon. Dighton approached the foyer of the station and assaulted an office.

He then assaulted a second officers and stabbed a third in the leg with a knife.

Dighton was found to be wearing body armour when he was arrested.

After a review of the incident, Counter Terrorism Policing Wales took the lead for the investigation and worked closely with South Wales Police and Crown Prosecution Service who authorised the charges.

The police investigation found that Dighton held strong anti-government, anti-Islam and anti-immigration views. He was interviewed a year before the attack, but was not deemed a threat. His sister had referred him to Prevent in January 2024, and officers carried out a three week "detailed assessment" of Dighton. It was found he did not fit criteria to be included on the Prevent programme.

Detective Chief Inspector Leanne Williams, from Counter Terrorism Policing Wales, said: “We welcome the outcome at court today.”

“On a daily basis, police officers up and down the length of the country, put their safety at risk on behalf of the public. They frequently enter situations that are uncertain, dangerous and can often be life threatening. This was no exception, and I must specifically acknowledge the courageous and determined actions of the officers that night in acting to contain the high level of threat presented to them, and ultimately the wider public, by Dighton.

“Our investigations demonstrated Dighton held strong anti-government, anti-Islam and anti-immigration views. He clearly hated our society and decided he was going to take a stand. We believe his distorted beliefs and mindset is what legitimised his attack on the police that day, as he considered them as representatives of the state. Counter Terrorism Policing together with wider policing as a whole, will relentlessly and vigorously pursue anyone who acts in such a way to undermine our democracy and our way of life, and ensure they are held to account for their actions.”

Frank Ferguson, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “Alexander Dighton wanted to attack the government and the state.

“By his own admission he wanted to take the life of a police officer, to cause damage and spill blood. We were able to show that Dighton’s attack was not only pre-meditated and meticulously planned, but that his motivations were connected to terrorism.

“While it is not a criminal offence to hold extreme or offensive views, it is one to carry out attempted murder and attack police officers which is what he had no option but to admit doing.”

“He pleaded guilty, and his sentencing today reflects the severity of his actions.”