Far-right extremism is on the rise with an attack in London likely this year, shows Met intelligence
- Far-right now more likely to launch an attack in London than Islamist terrorists
- Met and MI5 data suggests surge caused by anger over Afghan refugee influx
- The east London area of Havering flagged as hotbed for far-right extremism
Far-right extremism is on the rise with an attack in London likely in the next 12 months, according to the latest intelligence on threats facing the capital.
Officials who have seen the security assessment said far-Right militants are now thought more likely to mount an attack in London than Islamist terrorists.
Analysis by the Metropolitan Police and MI5 suggests the surge has been triggered by anger at an influx of 15,000 Afghan refugees flown to Britain in August.
Other factors were the Black Lives Matter protests and Covid restrictions.
According to sources, the East London area of Havering has been flagged as a hotbed of far-Right extremism.
Groups including Patriotic Alternative, Identity England and a resurgent National Front are active.
Last August, Patriotic Alternative placed a giant banner outside Havering’s town hall carrying the slogan: ‘White Lives Matter’.
Analysis by the Metropolitan Police and MI5 suggests the surge has been triggered by anger at an influx of 15,000 Afghan refugees flown to Britain in August. (file photo of Met officers in London)
A source said another factor behind the increase in far-Right activism was the presence of Eastern European groups among minority communities in the capital, adding: ‘There are lots of Poles, for example, who are following Polish far-Right groups in London, which are a lot more organised than British ones.’
Last year the head of MI5, Ken McCallum, warned of the rise of racist extremism across Britain, revealing that ten of the 29 plots foiled by his agency in the previous four years involved Right-wing groups.
However, Islamic extremists remain a serious threat and are thought likely to launch random attacks using a ‘bladed weapon or a blunt instrument like a hammer’ and to strike ‘non-symbolic targets’ such as suburban streets.
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