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==Counter-terrorism==
==Counter-terrorism==
''[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]'' newspaper obtained a leaked memo from the British government, originally dating 17 January, in late January 2007 detailing a proposed plan to place X-ray cameras in lampposts to see through clothes and identify terrorists. The memo says Home Office officials believe "detection of weapons and explosives will become easier... The social acceptability of routine intrusive detection measures and the operational response required in the event of an alarm are likely to be limiting factors." The Home Office did not comment on the memo.<ref name="LAMPRAY">{{cite web|url=http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/01/29/221455/home-office-considers-x-ray-monitors-on-lampposts-to-fight.htm|title=Home Office considers x-ray monitors on lampposts to fight terrorism - 29/Jan/2007|last=|first=|date=|website=ComputerWeekly.com|publisher=|access-date=|accessdate=April 5, 2008|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225348/http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/01/29/221455/home-office-considers-x-ray-monitors-on-lampposts-to-fight.htm|archivedate=September 27, 2007}}</ref> On 29 August 2014, the British government launched a raft of counter-terrorism measures as the terrorist threat level was raised to "severe". [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[David Cameron]] and [[Home Secretary]] [[Theresa May]] warned a terrorist attack was "highly likely", following the coming to prominence of the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Coates|first1=Sam|last2=Hamilton|first2=Fiona|title=Security crackdown amid severe terror threat|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/security-crackdown-amid-severe-terror-threat-v0tvj2vjd38|accessdate=23 May 2017|work=The Times|subscription=y|date=30 August 2014}}</ref> On 22 May 2017, at least 22 were killed after [[2017 Manchester Arena bombing|a bombing occurred]] following [[Dangerous Woman Tour|a concert tour]] by [[Ariana Grande]] in the most deadly terrorist attack on British soil since 2005.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dodd|first1=Vikram|last2=Pidd|first2=Helen|last3=Rawlinson|first3=Kevin|last4=Siddique|first4=Haroon|last5=MacAskill|first5=Ewen|title=At least 22 killed, 59 injured in suicide attack at Manchester Arena|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/22/manchester-arena-police-explosion-ariana-grande-concert-england|accessdate=23 May 2017|work=The Guardian|date=23 May 2017}}</ref>
''[[The Sun (newspaper)|The Sun]]'' newspaper obtained a leaked memo from the British government, originally dating 17 January, in late January 2007 detailing a proposed plan to place X-ray cameras in lampposts to see through clothes and identify terrorists. The memo says Home Office officials believe "detection of weapons and explosives will become easier... The social acceptability of routine intrusive detection measures and the operational response required in the event of an alarm are likely to be limiting factors." The Home Office did not comment on the memo.<ref name="LAMPRAY">{{cite web|url=http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/01/29/221455/home-office-considers-x-ray-monitors-on-lampposts-to-fight.htm|title=Home Office considers x-ray monitors on lampposts to fight terrorism - 29/Jan/2007|last=|first=|date=|website=ComputerWeekly.com|publisher=|access-date=|accessdate=April 5, 2008|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927225348/http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2007/01/29/221455/home-office-considers-x-ray-monitors-on-lampposts-to-fight.htm|archivedate=September 27, 2007}}</ref> On 29 August 2014, the British government launched a raft of counter-terrorism measures as the terrorist threat level was raised to "severe". [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[David Cameron]] and [[Home Secretary]] [[Theresa May]] warned a terrorist attack was "highly likely", following the coming to prominence of the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Coates|first1=Sam|last2=Hamilton|first2=Fiona|title=Security crackdown amid severe terror threat|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/security-crackdown-amid-severe-terror-threat-v0tvj2vjd38|accessdate=23 May 2017|work=The Times|subscription=y|date=30 August 2014}}</ref>

On 22 May 2017, at least 22 were killed after [[2017 Manchester Arena bombing|a bombing occurred]] following [[Dangerous Woman Tour|a concert tour]] by [[Ariana Grande]] in the most deadly terrorist attack on British soil since 2005.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dodd|first1=Vikram|last2=Pidd|first2=Helen|last3=Rawlinson|first3=Kevin|last4=Siddique|first4=Haroon|last5=MacAskill|first5=Ewen|title=At least 22 killed, 59 injured in suicide attack at Manchester Arena|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/may/22/manchester-arena-police-explosion-ariana-grande-concert-england|accessdate=23 May 2017|work=The Guardian|date=23 May 2017}}</ref> After a [[Civil Contingencies Committee|COBRA]] meeting, UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's [[UK Threat Levels|terror threat level]] was being raised to 'critical', its highest level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-manchester-40007967#post_59249b97e4b04aed2145e922|title=Latest updates as UK terror threat level raise|website=BBC News|accessdate=23 May 2017}}</ref> By raising the threat level to "critical", Operation Temperer was started, allowing 5,000 soldiers to replace armed police in protecting parts of the country.<ref name="ITV News threat level 2017">{{cite web |title=PM Theresa May raises UK threat level to 'critical' |website=ITV News |date=23 May 2017 |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2017-05-23/uk-threat-level-raised-to-critical-severe/ |access-date=23 May 2017 |quote=Raising the level to critical means that military personnel could be deployed to support armed police officers - part of a plan known as Operation Temperer.}}</ref><ref name="alan travis temperer twitter">{{cite tweet |author=Alan Travis |retweet=The Guardian |user=alantravis40 |number=867119049028890624 |date=23 May 2017 |title=PM says Critical Threat level's Operation Temperer will use up to 5,000 troops to take over armed police patrol duties under police command.
}}</ref> BBC's [[Frank Gardner (journalist)|Frank Gardner]] said that the first deployment of troops is expected to be in the hundreds.<ref name="Gardner BBC 2017">{{cite web | last=Gardner | first=Frank |author-link=Frank Gardner (journalist) | title=
Threat level raised: Latest updates
| website=BBC News | date=23 May 2017 | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-manchester-40007967#post_5924aefee4b04aed2145e945 | accessdate=23 May 2017}}</ref>


===State terrorism===
===State terrorism===

Revision as of 22:21, 23 May 2017

Terrorism in the United Kingdom, according to the Home Office, poses a significant threat to the state.[1] 1834 people were arrested in the United Kingdom from September 2001 to December 2009 in connection with terrorism, of which 422 were charged with terrorism-related offences and 237 were convicted.[2]

Banned organisations

The British government has designated 58 organisations as terrorist and banned them. 44 of these organisations were banned under the Terrorism Act of 2000. Two of these were also banned under the Terrorism Act of 2006 for "glorifying terrorism." Other than the far-right neo-Nazi National Action, the other fourteen organisations operate (for the most part) in Northern Ireland, and were banned under previous legislation.[1]

International organisations

International organisations the government has designated as terrorist and banned are:[1]

Irish Republican organisations

Irish organisations the British government has banned are:[1]

Loyalist organisations

Other British organisations

Incidents

Main article: List of terrorist incidents in Great Britain

There have been many historically significant terrorist incidents within the United Kingdom, from the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 to the various attacks related to The Troubles of Northern Ireland. In recent history, the UK security services have focused on the threat posed by radical Islamic militant organisations within the UK, such as the cell responsible for the 7 July 2005 London bombings.

Profile of a British terrorist

A "restricted" 12 June 2008 MI5 analysis of "several hundred individuals known to be involved in, or closely associated with, violent extremist activity" concludes that British terrorists "are a diverse collection of individuals, fitting no single demographic profile, nor do they all follow a typical pathway to violent extremism".[3]

Around half were born in the United Kingdom, the majority are British nationals and the remainder, with a few exceptions, are in the country legally. Most UK terrorists are male, but women are sometimes aware of their husbands', brothers' or sons' activities. While the majority are in their early to mid-20s when they become radicalised, a small but not insignificant minority first become involved in violent extremism at over the age of 30. Those over 30 are just as likely to have a wife and children as to be loners with no ties. MI5 says this challenges the idea that terrorists are young Muslim men driven by sexual frustration and lured to "martyrdom" by the promise of beautiful virgins waiting for them in paradise.[3]

Those involved in British terrorism have educational achievement ranging from total lack of qualifications to degree-level education. However, they are almost all employed in low-grade jobs.[3]

Far from being religious zealots, a large number of those involved in terrorism do not practise their faith regularly. Many lack religious literacy and could actually be regarded as religious novices. Very few have been brought up in strongly religious households, and there is a higher than average proportion of converts. Some are involved in drug-taking, drinking alcohol and visiting prostitutes. The report claims a well-established religious identity actually protects against violent radicalisation, while the influence of clerics in radicalising British terrorists has reduced in recent years.[3]

Counter-terrorism

The Sun newspaper obtained a leaked memo from the British government, originally dating 17 January, in late January 2007 detailing a proposed plan to place X-ray cameras in lampposts to see through clothes and identify terrorists. The memo says Home Office officials believe "detection of weapons and explosives will become easier... The social acceptability of routine intrusive detection measures and the operational response required in the event of an alarm are likely to be limiting factors." The Home Office did not comment on the memo.[4] On 29 August 2014, the British government launched a raft of counter-terrorism measures as the terrorist threat level was raised to "severe". Prime Minister David Cameron and Home Secretary Theresa May warned a terrorist attack was "highly likely", following the coming to prominence of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).[5]

On 22 May 2017, at least 22 were killed after a bombing occurred following a concert tour by Ariana Grande in the most deadly terrorist attack on British soil since 2005.[6] After a COBRA meeting, UK Prime Minister Theresa May announced that the UK's terror threat level was being raised to 'critical', its highest level.[7] By raising the threat level to "critical", Operation Temperer was started, allowing 5,000 soldiers to replace armed police in protecting parts of the country.[8][9] BBC's Frank Gardner said that the first deployment of troops is expected to be in the hundreds.[10]

State terrorism

The British state has been accused of involvement in state terrorism in Northern Ireland.[11][12][13][14]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "List of proscribed terrorist groups" (PDF). Gov.uk. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  2. ^ Alan Travis. "No terror arrests in 100,000 police counter-terror searches, figures show | Law". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  3. ^ a b c d Travis, Alan (2008-08-21). "MI5 report challenges views on terrorism in Britain Exclusive: Sophisticated analysis says there is no single pathway to violent extremism". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2008-08-23. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ "Home Office considers x-ray monitors on lampposts to fight terrorism - 29/Jan/2007". ComputerWeekly.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved April 5, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Coates, Sam; Hamilton, Fiona (30 August 2014). "Security crackdown amid severe terror threat". The Times. Retrieved 23 May 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |subscription= ignored (|url-access= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Dodd, Vikram; Pidd, Helen; Rawlinson, Kevin; Siddique, Haroon; MacAskill, Ewen (23 May 2017). "At least 22 killed, 59 injured in suicide attack at Manchester Arena". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Latest updates as UK terror threat level raise". BBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  8. ^ "PM Theresa May raises UK threat level to 'critical'". ITV News. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 23 May 2017. Raising the level to critical means that military personnel could be deployed to support armed police officers - part of a plan known as Operation Temperer.
  9. ^ Alan Travis [@alantravis40] (23 May 2017). "PM says Critical Threat level's Operation Temperer will use up to 5,000 troops to take over armed police patrol duties under police command" (Tweet). Retweeted by The Guardian – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Gardner, Frank (23 May 2017). "Threat level raised: Latest updates". BBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  11. ^ "CAIN: Issues: Collusion - Chronology of Events in the Stevens Inquiries". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  12. ^ Dr Martin Melaugh. "CAIN: Issues: Violence: Stevens Enquiry (3) Overview and Recommendations, 17 April 2003". Cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  13. ^ "Report of the Independent International Panel on Alleged Collusion in Sectarian Killings in Northern Ireland" (PDF). Patfinucanecentre.org. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
  14. ^ "Village - Politics, Media and Current Affairs in Ireland - 'I'm lucky to be above the ground'". Web.archive.org. 2006-11-16. Archived from the original on 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2016-01-28.
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