Terrorism

OPINION: Violent extremism is on the rise globally, and in countries such as Pakistan, vulnerable young people are routinely targeted and manipulated by extremist groups; new research by PhD student Umair Asif and Professor Tegwen Gadais of the Université du Québec à Montréal, and Associate Professor Simon Rosenbaum of UNSW Sydney, highlights the valuable role that sport can play in countering violent extremism and terrorism.

ANALYSIS: The recent horrific mass shootings in the US have once again highlighted how social media and online platforms are used to broadcast terrorists’ aims and actions; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at ongoing European efforts to target online terrorist content, including this month’s Terrorism and Social Media Conference in Swansea.

ANALYSIS: Dr Muhammad Dan Suleiman, Research Fellow at the UWA Africa Research & Engagement Centre at the University of Western Australia, identifies the key enablers of political extremism in West Africa.

ANALYSIS: As we approach the fifth anniversary of the Manchester Arena bombing, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the lessons that need to be learned in relation to protecting public spaces from terror attack, and the important balance between community security and the rights of individual citizens.

ANALYSIS: As recent terrorist attacks in Israel have increased tensions again in the region, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks back at the first incident of exported terrorism from the UK – the 2003 bombing of Mike’s Place in Tel Aviv – and considers how such events have shaped the country’s counter-terror stance and response to home-grown terrorism.

FEATURE: Five years after the Westminster Bridge attack in which PC Keith Palmer and four members of the public died, a new review by Lord Toby Harris into London’s preparedness and ability to respond to potential terror attacks has found “very substantial progress” – but warns against complacency, and highlights the damaging impact of austerity and funding cuts on counter-terror policing and wider partnership networks, as Policing Insight’s Keith Potter reports.

FEATURE: In his latest Annual Threat Assessment Mike Burgess, Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), has revealed that minors now account for half of ASIO’s priority counter-terrorism investigations, as the online radicalisation that went into overdrive during Covid lockdowns has created a new wave of more intense extremists ready to use violence.

ANALYSIS: The surge in terrorist content online has presented law enforcement agencies and tech companies with significant challenges in tackling dangerous extremists; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at European efforts to target such activities and online material, including new draft legislation governing how the EU can work with third countries to exchange data.

ANALYSIS: The recent siege in a synagogue in Texas highlighted once again that terrorists increasingly view places of worship as legitimate and accessible targets; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports on a new EU operational briefing published this week, providing guidance for law enforcement, faith leaders and their communities on improving protection at places of worship.

ANALYSIS: Politically motivated crime has been recognised as an issue needing specific attention for more than a century, but with multiple agencies now active in the sector, co-ordinating that response can be difficult; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the challenges presented by politically motivated crimes, and the importance of differentiating between extremism and terrorism.

FEATURE: Europol’s latest terrorism trends report has highlighted the success of far-right extremists in exploiting the isolation and increased internet use driven by the pandemic to spread right-wing ideologies and propaganda; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the nature of the online far-right terrorism threat, and how COVID-19 has created a breeding ground for extremism.

FEATURE: The 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York’s World Trade Centre caused a devastating loss of life as well as having a huge impact on businesses and the city’s federal purse; 20 years on, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the long-term impact of 9/11 – both physical and financial – and the legacy of a ‘War on Terror’ which is far from won.

FEATURE: The terrorist attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils four years ago this month left 14 people dead and more than 130 injured; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at the National Counter-Terrorism Strategy launched by the Spanish Government since those attacks, as well as the continuing threat and risk posed to Spain by both violent jihadist terrorism and returning foreign terrorist fighters.

FEATURE: Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports on a terrorist drone attack in India that has raised concerns among security policymakers around the world, and highlighted the fact that unmanned aerial vehicles present a clear and present danger to the public – one for which police and security authorities remain poorly prepared.

FEATURE: The forest wildfires which have swept large parts of Turkey, killing at least eight people and decimating wildlife, made the news headlines around the world: but there are fears that a return to pyro-terrorism rather than climate change could be the main factor behind these latest blazes, as PhD student Eray Arda Akartuna of UCL’s Dawes Centre for Future Crime reports.

ANALYSIS: Europol’s latest EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TE-SAT) found that while terrorist activity in Europe remained stable in 2020, more jihadist attacks were completed than stopped, as policing across the continent struggled to cope with the pandemic; Policing Insight’s Sean Howe looks at some of the key issues highlighted by the report, including the increase in radicalisation during COVID-19, and the growth of online extremist propaganda.

ANALYSIS: Sixteen years ago today, four suicide bombers carrying rucksacks packed with explosives attacked central London, killing 52 people and injuring hundreds more; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth looks at what happened in the lead up to the worst single terrorist atrocity on British soil, and how those events have continued to have an impact on counter-terrorism and UK policing through to the current day.

OPINION: The recent inquest into the Fishmonger’s Hall terror attack highlighted missed opportunities into the investigation of terrorist Usman Khan, and prompted criticism of the police and security services for their failure to share information more effectively; Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth believes that, in the light of this inquest and other previous incidents, it’s now time to consider if the present UK counter-terrorism architecture is fit for purpose.

FEATURE: The recent Europol terrorism report confirmed that violent Jihadism remains a serious concern in the UK, and also redefines ‘Jihadist terrorism’; as Jihadist attacks on soft targets continue, Policing Insight’s Andrew Staniforth reports on why the definition and terminology used is a key issue for law enforcement.

OPINION: A more co-ordinated integration of cybercrime and terrorism is leading to the growth of cyber terrorism, warns Western Australia MP and counter-terrorism expert Dr Anne Aly – and more trained experts, extra resources and strong legislation are needed to tackle the terrorist exploitation of the internet.

OPINION: Both the Commission for Countering Extremism and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services have put forward new terminology to describe extremist organisations and activities in the UK; but Professor Chris Allen of the University of Leicester believes the new definitions could create more problems than they solve.

FEATURE: The recent riots in Northern Ireland have been blamed on the Brexit sea border controversy and the decision not to prosecute Republican mourners over a COVID-19 funeral breach; but a recent review of terrorism legislation warns that delays and failures in the country’s criminal justice system could exacerbate the issues, as Policing insight’s Andrew Staniforth explains.

OPINION: Two years on from the horrific terrorist attack on a Christchurch mosque that left 51 people dead, Law Professor Alexander Gillespie looks at the advances in tackling racism, extremism and the terrorist threat in New Zealand, as well as the challenges that still need to be met.

Analysis: Several US security experts say they now consider domestic extremism a greater threat to the country than international terror. Luis De la Calle examines the elements currently present in US society that could produce what he describes as a low-intensity terrorist conflict led by dissatisfied far-right groups who believe further violence is the only way to counter what they see as federal overreach.