Counter Terror Business - Counter Terrorism

£5 million funding boost for Project Servator

Angela Pisanu — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:29:11 +0000

The government has announced £5 million to increase deployments under Project Servator, a national policing tactic which disrupts criminal activity and protects communities through highly visible and unpredictable deployments.

The specialist officers are trained to spot suspicious activity and identify individuals who are preparing to commit serious crimes, including acts of terrorism.

Additional specialist officers will be put on the streets in communities across the country, particularly Jewish and other faith communities.

Funding will be initially focused on supporting communities in London and Manchester, with the Metropolitan Police Service and Greater Manchester Police expected to step up patrols to stop potential terrorist threats and reconnaissance.

It comes during a period of increased concern for some communities across the country as both antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate crime have reached record highs.

Security Minister Dan Jarvis said: "Project Servator has a proven track record of stopping criminals and terrorists through highly visible, unpredictable deployments that vary in time and location, deterring those planning harm and reassuring the public.

"This new funding will back the police with the resources they need to step up patrols, protect communities, and keep people safe in the places where they live, work and worship.

The uplift in Servator deployments follows the arson attack on the Hatzola ambulances in Golders Green, the charging of individuals under the National Security Act for alleged surveillance of Jewish sites, the terrorist attack at Heaton Park synagogue and arson attack at Peacehaven mosque last year.

Project Servator officers disrupt crime through highly visible and unpredictable deployments, consisting of uniformed and plain clothes officers, as well as specialist units. Previous deployments have led to arrests, seizures of drugs and weapons, and the collection of critical intelligence to support counter-terrorism investigations.

Officers also engage with the public and businesses to further heighten awareness, encouraging everyone to stay alert and act swiftly on anything unusual.

Man arrested by CTP in Birmingham

Polly Jones — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 11:50:06 +0000

A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation.

The man was arrested by detectives from Counter Terrorism Policing West Midlands as part of a pre-planned policing operation.

Data released on terrorism arrests

Polly Jones — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:48:12 +0000

New data from the �鶹��s office shows that there were 255 terrorism-related arrests between 01 January and 31 December 2025, an increase of 2 per cent compared with the previous year’s 250.

This figure does not include the 2,779 arrests for proscription offences relating to Palestine Action, due to the ongoing Judicial Review and subsequent appeal.

39 people under the age of 17 were arrested n connection with counter terrorism investigations in 2025, a decrease of just one from 40 the previous year.

92 per cent of those arrested were men and boys.

At the end of 2025, there were 267 people in custody for terrorism and terrorism connected offences in Great Britain; this is the highest number since comparable records began.

Since the start of 2020, Counter Terrorism Policing and UK Intelligence Services have disrupted 19 late–stage attacks.

Countering state threats now accounts for more than 20 per cent of CTP casework and demand on the War Crimes Team has increased by 50 per cent since 2020.

Senior National Coordinator for Prevent and Pursue at Counter Terrorism Policing, Vicki Evans, said: “The latest statistics are a stark reminder of the enduring threat of terrorism, and how important it is that we continue to detect and disrupt plots against our communities.

“During 2025 we saw some significant results through the courts, with life sentences handed out to those who had planned the most atrocious attacks but were thankfully foiled by the efforts of Counter Terrorism Policing officers and staff. One of these was the conviction of three men in December 2025 following a foiled plot to attack the Jewish community in Manchester; they were sentenced in January this year, with two of them receiving life sentences.

“Another included a man given a life sentence with a minimum of 16 years for planning an attack against a mosque and a bookshop in the city; another involved three men who were part of an online extreme right-wing group who discussed targets for harassment and attacks, including mosques, Islamic Education centres and synagogues. They were sentenced to a combined 29 years in prison, while another case saw a man sentenced to 15 years for sharing Daesh propaganda and encouraging terrorism.

“A clear marker of this successful activity is the record number of people in custody for terrorism related offences at the end of 2025.

“Our teams work with security services to do incredible things every day to stop the horror of terrorism spilling on our streets, and today’s figures are a snapshot of those efforts.”

EU and UK hold Counter Terrorism Dialogue

Polly Jones — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 10:29:03 +0000

The EU and UK have held their third Counter Terrorism Dialogue in Brussels.

The Dialogue was established by the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA).

A range of counter-terrorism issues were discussed including assessments of the evolving terrorist threat landscape, and an exchange of best practice on the UK’s and EU’s responses to protect citizens.

The parties also discussed strategic approaches to countering terrorism and a range of topics related to the abuse of new technologies by terrorist groups, including preventing radicalisation online and AI.

The UK delegation was chaired by Jonathan Emmett, Director Counter-Terrorism in the �鶹�� Office, who was accompanied by officials from the �鶹�� Office, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The next Counter-Terrorism Dialogue is due to be held in London.

CTP investigating attacks on Pakistani dissidents

Polly Jones — Fri, 23 Jan 2026 10:30:53 +0000

The Guardian has reported that counter terrorism police are investigating "targeted attacks" against two Pakistani dissidents in the UK.

The series of four attacks, which began on Christmas Eve, may indicate states using criminal proxies to silence their critics.

The attacks took place in Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire, one of which involved a firearm.

The first two attacks happened on Christmas Eve, one in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, when two men broke into a home of a dissident and vandalised it. The second was at the home of Mirza Shahzad Akbar, a former member of Imran Khan’s cabinet, who now lives in Cambridgeshire. Akbar said he was attacked just after 8am on Christmas Eve. He told the Guardian he was punched in the face.

On the advice on police Akbar and his family left the house. After he returned to the house on New Year's Eve, another attack took place. Two men were seen on CCTV, one of them shot through the window with a firearm. The other then threw a burning rag through the window.

A third attack took place at Akbar's home on 10 January. A man sprayed chemicals on the outer wall and broke windows with an iron bar. Racist graffiti was also sprayed on the exterior.

Akbar also suffered an acid attack in 2023.

Emergency services test terrorism response on cross-channel ferry

Polly Jones — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 09:40:03 +0000

Emergency services have come together to test a multi-agency response to a major terrorism incident on a cross-channel ferry.

The exercise was carried out on a Brittany Ferries cross-channel ferry at the Port of Poole in Dorset and involved several hundred people. It was coordinated by Counter Terrorism Policing South West (CTPSW) working alongside Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) and other blue light partners.

The exercise tested the way police and partners like ambulance and fire teams reacted to challenging, dynamic incidents both on and offshore.

The event is part of a regular national testing and exercising programme and was not in response to any specific threat or intelligence.

Regional Assistant Chief Constable Andy Hill, speaking on behalf of Counter Terrorism Policing South West, said: “Exercises like this take place regularly across all emergency services and are a crucial way of testing the response that would be required in the event of a major incident such as a terrorist attack.

“Not only do exercises help us all understand each other’s roles, they also provide an opportunity to identify learning, which can then be adopted to strengthen our response and ensure we provide the best possible protection to our communities.

“Counter Terrorism Policing constantly monitors and reviews the plans and measures in place so that we and our partners are ready to respond in the most effective way, should the worst happen.

“I’m incredibly grateful to everyone involved in pulling the exercise together, along with those who took part.”

Dorset Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Steve Lyne said: “We were delighted to host the exercise here in Dorset and work with our partners across the region and beyond.

“This type of training is an integral part of policing and ensures we deliver an immediate and robust response to a major incident with our partners.

“Simply put, this is about protecting the public with a strong and dynamic response that helps us to protect life.

“I would like to personally thank everyone who was involved to make this exercise possible.”

Emergency services test response to hazardous substances attack

Polly Jones — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 09:42:18 +0000

600 members of the emergency services, armed forces and partner agencies have taken part in an exercise to test the response to a potential hazardous substances attack.

The major national exercise jointly delivered by Eastern Region Counter Terrorism Policing and the Ministry of Defence tested the UK's preparedness for a large-scale Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear or Explosive (CBRNE) incident.

Participants simulated CBRNE incident which involved material release and a number of improvised explosive devices (IED) to test joint working, emergency response and specialist response teams, including the Technical Response Force.

According to Counter Terror Policing, the exercise was successful and demonstrated excellent response capabilities from all agencies.

It was pointed out that the use of CBRNE materials in an attack remains significantly less likely than a conventional attack, however its malicious release remains a major threat to national security according to the National Risk Register. An incident could include the terrorist use of a chemical or biological weapon, an improvised explosive device, a hazardous materials release, or a large-scale poisoning.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations, Jon Savell, said: “Our ability to respond to complex threats depends on the strength of our partnerships. The close working relationship between Counter Terrorism Policing, local policing and our partner agencies is not just about systems and procedures, it’s about trust, communication and a shared purpose.

“Exercises like this ensure we continue to build that collaboration, so we can respond swiftly and effectively when it matters most to keep the public safe.”

Security minister, Dan Jarvis, said: “Joint training is vital to ensure that our policing partners, armed forces and emergency responders can work seamlessly together to protect the British public from a range of threats, including chemical, biological and radiological incidents.

“Their ongoing training and preparation ensures that when an incident happens, the UK can respond rapidly, effectively and with confidence.”

UK police help to thwart attack on Ukrainian school

Polly Jones — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:08:52 +0000

Officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command (CTC) have helped to prevent a potentially lethal attack at a school in Ukraine.

The Counter Terrorism Internet Referral Unit received a public referral concerned about an online post, which suggested an imminent attack was being planned by an individual in Ukraine.

After urgent review, the information was passed through CTP International Operations to a Counter Terrorism Police Liaison Officer. Europol was then used to help alert authorities in Ukraine.

It has been reported that a 15-year-old boy was arrested in Ukraine and weapons and knives were seized. This has been confirmed by the Ukrainian Ministry of the Interior.

Commander Dominic Murphy, from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command said: “This was a truly remarkable piece of work by all those involved – both here in the UK as well as counterparts in Ukraine. The swift actions by our officers alerting Ukrainian counterparts has helped to avert what could have been a potentially devastating attack at a school in Ukraine. It’s all the more remarkable when you consider the incredible difficulties those in Ukraine are facing while fighting a war, but thanks to our collective efforts, lives have almost certainly been saved.

“Our close ties with international partners are a key part of our work in Counter Terrorism Policing and this case shows why that work is so important to tackling threats, wherever they might appear in the world. It also highlights the important role the public play and we would continue to encourage the public to flag any concerning material to us – as we’ve seen here, it could help save lives.”

Man arrested after disturbance on flight to Glasgow

Polly Jones — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:14:43 +0000

A 41-year-old man has been arrested after police were called to a report of a man causing a disturbance on a flight arriving into Glasgow around 8.20am on Sunday, 27 July, 2025.

Videos of the incident are being assessed by counter terrorism officers.

Police believe the incident is contained and no one else was involved.

News outlets have reported that videos are circulating online showing a man shouting “death to America, death to Trump” and “Allahu akbar”.

�鶹�� Office report makes recommendations for Prevent

Meghan Shaw — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:45:36 +0000

The �鶹�� Office has published its ‘Lessons for Prevent’ review yesterday (16th July 2025), which discusses the role of Prevent in the murder of Sir David Amess MP in 2021 and the murders of three young girls in Southport last year by Axel Rudakubana. It was carried out by the interim independent Prevent commissioner Lord Anderson of Ipswich KBE KC.

This was first ordered by the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, in January after it was found out that Rudakubana was referred to Prevent, the government’s programme to stop people from becoming terrorists, three times. It is part of the UK’s CONTEST counter-terrorism strategy, and operates across England, Scotland and Wales. The then-17-year-old stabbed three young girls to death at a dance class in Southport in July 2024, and attempted to murder eight other children and two adults.

The report, later, was asked to include the failings of Ali Harbi Ali’s case, who assassinated the MP in a constituency surgery, which has been categorised as a terrorist attack.

The report details that he was referred to Prevent by his school in 2014, and then Channel, which decided to offer him an Intervention Provider. Here, Prevent “functioned well”. But, this was followed by a “long string of failings” which the report described as “the product of poor judgement, poor communication and lack of follow-through.” In Harbi Ali’s initial meeting with his Intervention Provider, he concealed his true believes, and this was not followed by any further meetings that the police had commissioned.

The report says that if these errors had not been made, Prevent would have undoubtedly uncovered the full extent of Harbi Ali’s descent into terrorism, averting his 2021 crime.

The case for Rudakubana is more complicated: he was not sentenced as a terrorist due to a lack of clear ideology, but had been referred to Prevent by his school three times between 2019 and 2021. This saw his school present the police with three opportunities to progress towards Channel, a voluntary and confidential early intervention programme that supports rather than punishes those at risk of terrorism, but none of these were not taken, even though he was already showing an interest in terrorism and disturbed characteristics. He was not even referred for information-gathering, as had been recommended. Anderson believes he should have been.

The report asserts that had these measures been implemented, they would have had the “potential to make a material difference”, and Anderson recommends policy that “violence-fascinated individuals” who had not particularly ideology but may have the potential to commit crimes with similarities to acts of terrorism, should continue to be accommodated within Prevent.

Anderson also concludes that Prevent would be more effective if “embedded within a comprehensive violence prevention strategy, behind a “big front door””.

Although Prevent remains controversial, Anderson affirms that it has the power to make positive change, although is not always possible.

He then makes ten recommendations around five points: Prevent should apply to those who have no fixed ideology but a fascination with extreme violence or mass casualty attacks; Prevent could function better if formally connected to a broader safeguarding and violence protection system; Prevent needs to adapt to the online world where so much radicalisation takes place; public transparency about the structures, systems and statistics of Prevent should be the default; and information-sharing and engagement should be improved.

On the report, Counter Terrorism Policing’s senior national coordinator for prevent and pursue, deputy assistant commissioner Vicki Evans said: “Counter Terrorism Policing welcomes Lord Anderson’s report and remains committed to understanding the full extent of the circumstances which led to the murders of Sir David Amess MP in 2021, and of innocent children in Southport last year.

“Not only is it the least those affected by these acts of violence deserve, but it is only through this understand that we can identify where the Prevent system can be improved to keep pace with evolving threats and strengthen our protection of the public alongside our partners.

“We are grateful to Lord Anderson for the time he spent speaking to CTP officers and staff directly involved in those cases, and to other colleagues who explained how are have responded to the recommendations of previous reviews.

“We will now carefully reflect on the report and its recommendations, and continue to work alongside the government, security services, wider policing and other partners to ensure that systems designed to keep the public safe from harm do exactly that.”