Laura O'Callaghan

Pressure for investigation into ‘dangerous’ association between UK imams and Taliban A group of British mosque leaders and Islamic scholars held meeting with the Taliban on a 'fact-finding mission'

September 5, 2023 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) Afghan activists are calling for an investigation into British imams who met Taliban ministers amid fears they could have been influenced by the regime’s strict ideology. Hundreds of people including women’s rights campaigners and former Afghan politicians have signed a petition […]

Al Qaeda and ISIS ‘planning attacks in the UK’ Home Secretary Suella Braverman set to warn the threat of terrorism is severe in Britain

July 16, 2023 Soraya Ebrahimi and Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) ISIS and Al Qaeda are plotting attacks in the UK, the government is expected to warn on Tuesday. Home Secretary Suella Braverman will describe terrorism by Islamist extremists as “the predominant threat” facing British security in an update to Contest, the […]

MPs launch investigation into UK’s counter-terrorism strategy Committee will work to predict what kind of threat terrorism will pose over the next 10 years

May 12, 2023 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) An inquiry into the UK’s efforts to tackle terrorism on a global scale has been launched by the House of Commons’ foreign affairs committee. Led by Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, the panel will examine key aspects of terrorism including the motivations […]

UK summons Iranian diplomat after threats force TV channel to close in London Britain's foreign secretary also announced further sanctions on Iranian officials linked to human rights abuses

February 20, 2023 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) Britain summoned Iran’s most senior diplomat on Monday to make clear that threats to journalists on UK soil “will never go unchallenged” after a Persian-language TV channel was forced to close its London newsroom. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he was […]

UK’s Prevent terror strategy review to address classifying extremists as victims Shawcross report expected to warn that treating potentially dangerous people as vulnerable presents serious security issues

February 7, 2023 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) The classification of extremists as vulnerable people is a “mischaracterisation,” the author of a review of the UK’s Prevent strategy is expected to say. William Shawcross, author of the review, is understood to have taken issue with how the government’s counter-terrorism […]

Far-right terrorism rise in UK ‘masks threat of Islamist extremism’ Security expert concerned risk is being misjudged and warns of possible ISIS resurgence

January 17, 2023 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) Britain cannot afford to underestimate the threat Islamist terrorism continues to pose to its security, an expert has warned, amid growing emphasis on the rise of far-right ideology among prisoners. Dr Paul Stott, head of security and extremism at Policy Exchange, […]

UK ministers ‘at odds’ over Prevent counter-extremism review The report was finished in the summer but has yet to be released

December 28, 2022 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) British Cabinet ministers are said to be locked in a row over a long-awaited review of Prevent, the government’s flagship counter-extremism programme. Suella Braverman, the home secretary, is reportedly at odds with Michael Gove, the secretary for levelling up, housing and […]

Iranian influence and threats growing in the UK, says security minister Hardline regime in Tehran has threatened to kill or kidnap 10 people in Britain this year

December 13, 2022 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) Britain is facing growing interference, threats and influence from state actors including Iran, security minister Tom Tugendhat has warned. Since 10 Iranian plots were revealed in November more incidents have come to light. Foreign meddling of this nature, he said, poses […]

Manchester Arena bombing victim’s mother fears new terror law will leave ‘loopholes’ open Five years on from attack that killed 22 people, grieving parent still fighting for change of legislation

October 11, 2022 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) A woman whose son was killed in the Manchester Arena bombing on Tuesday voiced an evocative “mother-to-mother” message for Prime Minister Liz Truss, as she continues to battle for a change of law five years on. Figen Murray said the killing […]

Pro-Iranian group chief ‘praised fatwa against Salman Rushdie’ Massoud Shadjareh is accused of telling Islamophobia conference in 2021 that Muslims thought publishing of The Satanic Verses 'was wrong'

August 21, 2022 Laura O'Callaghan

(National-UAE) The head of a pro-Iranian non-profit group based in Britain voiced support for the fatwa calling for the death of Sir Salman Rushdie, it has been claimed. Massoud Shadjareh, founder and chairman of the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC), allegedly backed […]