There was one terrorist attack in Great Britain this month: a bladed weapon attack on Sir David Amess MP in Leigh-on-Sea. The previously unpublicised terrorist threat level for MPs was raised to SUBSTANTIAL and a review of MP security has been ordered. The incident also raised concerns about the effectiveness of Prevent, the Government’s counter- radicalisation programme.
Elsewhere in the country, a teenage neo-Nazi was sentenced for terror offences, including attempting to procure 3-D printed firearms. The case underscores the enduring threat from right-wing extremists, and the ongoing intent of terrorists in the UK to acquire more sophisticated weapons.
In Norway, an attack by an assailant using a bow and a bladed weapon killed five. It remains unclear if the attack was motivated by Islamist extremism. Regardless, the incident highlighted the potential lethality of attacks using legally available weapons.
Further afield, in Afghanistan, Daesh’s local affiliate (ISKP) claimed responsibility for two bomb attacks, collectively killing nearly 100 people and injuring many more. Deteriorating security in the country does not pose an immediate threat to the UK, but long-term insecurity in the region could have significant domestic security implications for Western countries.
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