Threat from extremists carrying out UK terror attacks ‘growing’, says Patel

Home secretary Priti Patel. Picture: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire

The threat from radicalised extremists planning and carrying out terror attacks on their own is growing, Home Secretary Priti Patel warned as she paid tribute to the victims of Saturday’s stabbing in Reading.

Ms Patel said the Government was carrying out the “biggest overhaul” of terrorist sentencing and monitoring “in decades” with new legislation as she warned that the “threat posed by lone actors is growing”.

But the Home Secretary was told legislation is not be enough to stop individuals being radicalised, with four attacks since the terror threat level was lowered in November prompting growing calls for a review of the government’s Prevent strategy, and new efforts to tackle extremism in prisons.

Colleagues and pupils of teacher James Furlong take part in a period of silence at the Holt School, Wokingham, Berskhire. Picture: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

“We continue to pursue every option available to tackle the terrorist threat and to take dangerous people off our streets,” Ms Patel told MPs.

“The police and security services will continue in their investigations to better understand the circumstances of this tragic incident and if further action is needed we will not hesitate.”

Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told the Commons it was “heartbreaking that we are having this conversation again so soon” after attacks at Fishmongers’ Hall near London Bridge in November and in Streatham in February. Another attack took place at HMP Whitemoor in 
January.

He told MPs: “The country will want answers about these incidents which have occurred in such quick succession. So whilst the priority today must be to ensure that there are no further related threats and that the victims and families are cared for, it is vital that questions are addressed.”

Mr Thomas-Symonds added: “We need a comprehensive look at de-radicalisation in our prisons, how people who pose a threat are risk-assessed and how different agencies can work together to safeguard against tragedies in the future.”

Ms Patel faced questions from MPs over when the promised review of the anti-terror Prevent programme would take place, and when the security and intelligence committee of MPs - which acts as parliamentary watchdog for the UK’s intelligence services and has not met for six months - would be reconvened.

Referring to the Prevent programme, Ms Patel said: “We do need to work harder at a community level to avoid any stigmatisation but actually to encourage people to engage and participate.”