Three terror attacks foiled since pandemic began

Counter Terrorism Policing and the UK Intelligence Services have foiled three terror attacks since the coronavirus pandemic began, despite lockdowns causing terrorism-related arrests to fall to their lowest level in nearly a decade.

The Home Office’s quarterly release of statistics relating to the police’s use of powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 revealed there were a total of 185 arrests for terrorism-related activity in the year ending 31 December 2020, 97 (34 per cent) fewer than in the previous 12-month period and the lowest annual total since 2011.

However, despite the reduction in the number of arrests, which is largely due to an overall reduction in crime since the beginning of the national lockdown in March last year, the number of terror plots stopped by CTP and their intelligence partners has risen to a total of 28 since March 2017.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon highlighted a worrying trend was developing in the arrest statistics, with children under the age of 18 the only age category which saw an increase – rising from 11 to 17 in total. That is a total of 10 per cent of all arrests, which has risen from just four per cent in the previous 12months.

Haydon said: “These statistics tell me two things. Firstly, that despite facing unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic, Counter Terrorism Policing continued to keep the public safe by making 185 arrests across more than 800 live investigations – stopping three possible terror attacks in the process.

“And secondly, that while the rest of us have been focussed on protecting ourselves and our families from this terrible disease, terrorists have not stopped planning attacks or radicalising vulnerable people online.

“As we follow the government’s roadmap out of the tightest restrictions there will be greater opportunity for terrorists to operate, and we want the public to join the police, security staff and retail workers in a collective community effort to minimise the chance of attack. When we say that ‘Communities defeat terrorism’ it is not just a catchphrase. We know from experience that public information and action helps saves lives and lead to the significant arrests detailed in these statistics.”