Prevent – Eye on Islamism

Islamist extremism ‘the foremost threat we face,’ security minister tells MPs Dan Jarvis was outlining the findings of a Prevent learning review which looked at the late MP Sir David Amess’s killer Ali Harbi Ali

February 12, 2025 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) Home Office minister Dan Jarvis has suggested the anti-terror Prevent programme has been underestimating the threat posed by Islamist extremism. Dan Jarvis told the Commons that Islamist referrals into [the] Prevent programme increased by 17 per cent last year. But […]

Killer of MP Sir David Amess was ‘exited’ from Prevent ‘too quickly,’ review finds Ali Harbi Ali stabbed the veteran Tory MP to death five years after he was released from the Prevent programme following one meeting at a McDonald's to deal with his interpretation of what is forbidden under Islamic law.

February 12, 2025 Alix Culbertson

(Sky News) The man who killed Conservative MP Sir David Amess was released from the Prevent anti-terror programme “too quickly,” a review has found. Sir David was stabbed to death by Islamic State (ISIS) supporter Ali Harbi Ali during a constituency surgery […]

British child died in Syria detention camp despite UK evacuation offer Dozens of British nationals suspected of joining ISIS remain in detention in Syria but new leaders in Damascus could change this

January 29, 2025 Lemma Shehadi

(National-UAE) The child of a British woman from north London held in an ISIS detention camp in Syria died amid a stand-off over the family’s return to the UK. The woman, who is said by her MP to be in declining health, […]

No plans to expand definition of extremism — minister

January 28, 2025 Henry Zeffman, Tom Symonds and Helen Catt

(BBC) There are no plans to expand the definition of extremism, Home Office minister Dan Jarvis has said, following reports it could be broadened to cover potentially violent environmentalists and misogynists. He said Islamist extremism followed by far-right extremism were the biggest […]

Reading victims’ families want action after Southport murders

January 24, 2025 Unlisted Author

(BBC) The families of three men murdered by a man after multiple failures by state agencies fear lessons have not been learned after the killings in Southport and are demanding more government action. James Furlong, David Wails and Joe Ritchie-Bennett were attacked […]

Starmer warns of online radicalization in wake of Southport murders UK prime minister signals threat posed by 'loners, misfits' and 'young men in their bedroom.'

January 21, 2025 Laurie Clarke

(Politico) Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a fresh warning about the dangers of online radicalization, as he pointed out that the teenager who carried out July’s deadly Southport attack, Axel Rudakubana, watched violent online content before killing three young girls in a […]

Boy, 15, charged with terror offences relating to extremist Islam

January 21, 2025 Henry Moore

(LBC) A 15-year-old boy has been charged with terror offences connected to extremist Islam. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is accused of three counts of having a document or record of information likely to be useful to a […]

British Islamic org. calls for boycott of Holocaust Memorial Day The IHRC said it was 'morally unacceptable' that Gaza was not considered a 'genocide' alongside the Holocaust.

January 12, 2025 Unlisted Author

(Jerusalem Post) The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) wrote to 460 town halls and educational centers asking them to boycott the UK’s Holocaust Memorial Day. The IHRC, which British media has linked to Iran, said it was “morally unacceptable” that Gaza was […]

‘How was a terrorist able to kill my father?’: Sir David Amess’ daughter speaks out 3 years on from murder

October 27, 2024 Kit Heren

(LBC) The daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess has spoken out on the third anniversary of his death, questioning why a terrorist was able to kill him. Sir David’s daughter Katie said her family’s world “shattered” on October 15, 2021, when […]

Man sentenced for sharing Islamic State material

October 22, 2024 Unlisted Author

(BBC) A man who shared online material “glorifying acts of terrorism” in support of the Islamic State group (IS) has been given a community order. Ryan Scuffil, from Somerset, was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court in London on Monday following an […]

Terror probe closed before imam’s murder — inquiry

September 24, 2024 Paul Burnell

(BBC) A former counter-terrorism detective agreed an investigation was prematurely closed into a man later convicted of helping an alleged extremist flee the UK after murdering an imam. Former detective inspector Frank Morris, who retired from Greater Manchester Police in 2021, told […]

UK government urged to overhaul Prevent and counter-extremism policies Letter from civil society groups also calls on Labour to suspend Michael Gove's proposed definition of extremism

September 23, 2024 Imran Mullah

(Middle East Eye) A coalition of leading civil society organisations has urged the UK Labour government to overhaul counter-extremism policies including the controversial Prevent programme, Middle East Eye can exclusively report. In a letter sent to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, the organisations also […]

How the Taylor Swift teenage ISIS plotters slipped through Vienna’s security cracks Rise of extremist youths linked to bomb plot tests Austria's tough anti-terrorism policies

August 23, 2024 Tim Stickings

(National-UAE) When a phone rings at a former screw factory in Vienna’s old Jewish quarter, it could be a confused teenager, a hapless teacher — or a chance to stop a terrorist. Austria’s extremism hotline fields hundreds of calls a year from […]

Imam from extremist-led London mosque claims ‘Zionists’ behind violent riots that rocked Britain Ashraf Dabous said that rioters had been misled by 'individuals who do not have their best interests at heart'

August 20, 2024 Holly Bishop

(GB News) An imam from an extremist-led London mosque has blamed “Zionists” for the violent immigration riots that shook the UK. Ashraf Dabous, of the Lewisham Islamic Centre, said that rioters were being “manipulated and misguided” so that supporters of the state […]

UK election: What is The Muslim Vote — and why does it matter? The campaign backs a list of MPs for the election, and has been driven by Labour's early support for Israel’s war on Gaza

June 6, 2024 Imran Mulla

(Middle East Eye) Launched in December 2023, The Muslim Vote (TMV) is a campaign in the UK supporting parliamentary candidates for the upcoming election in constituencies with a significant Muslim electorate. Much of its driving force has been the early support from the […]

Mother facing jail for failing to tell police about son’s involvement in plot to bomb London Nabeela Anjum failed to tell police about what she knew of her son Sameer Anjum's cooperation with another terrorist.

May 14, 2024 Duncan Gardham

(Sky News) A mother is facing jail after she failed to inform police that her teenage son knew about a terrorist plot to bomb central London. Nabeela Anjum, 48, a biomedical scientist at St James’s Hospital in Leeds, tried to persuade her […]

Khairi Saadallah: The missed opportunities to stop Reading attacker An inquest into the deaths of Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, James Furlong and David Wails heard six weeks of evidence from witnesses including probation and immigration officials, police and MI5 officers.

April 26, 2024 Henry Vaughan

(Sky News) When three men were stabbed to death in Reading’s Forbury Gardens on Saturday, 20 June 2020, Nick Harborne instantly knew Khairi Saadallah was responsible. “Something inside me just went cold,” he told Sky News. The chief executive of the Reading […]

Reading attacks inquest: Deaths avoidable, coroner concludes

April 26, 2024 Unlisted Author

(BBC) The deaths of three men murdered by a man convicted under anti-terror laws in a Reading park were avoidable, an inquest has concluded. Khairi Saadallah killed James Furlong, David Wails, and Joe Ritchie-Bennett, in Forbury Gardens in June 2020. He was […]

New extremism definition unveiled because ‘democracy at risk from far-right and Islamist extremists’ Michael Gove updates the description to include conduct that falls short of criminality, but the government still deems 'unacceptable.'

March 14, 2024 Alexandra Rogers

(Sky News) The government has unveiled its new definition of extremism despite warnings it could have a “chilling effect” on free speech. Michael Gove, the communities secretary, has updated the definition as part of a drive to clamp down on the Islamist […]

Government’s new extremism definition will ‘vilify the wrong people,’ warn Muslim organisations Groups say the new definition 'signals an attack on civil liberties by attacking law-abiding individuals and groups that oppose government policy' by labelling them as 'extremist.'

March 13, 2024 Jason Farrell

(Sky News) The government’s proposal to redefine extremism will “vilify the wrong people” and “risk more division,” according to a coalition of Muslim organisations. Signatories include groups which fear they may fall under the new definition announced as part of the government’s […]

Michael Gove says ‘good-hearted people’ at pro-Palestine marches should question potential ‘extremist organisers’ Tens of thousands of people participated in a Gaza protest on Saturday in London — the fifth march in the capital this year — which saw five arrests and a counter-protester de-arrested.

March 10, 2024 Unlisted Author

(Sky News) Michael Gove has urged pro-Palestinian protesters to question whether extremist groups are behind some of the demonstrations — days ahead of publishing a new official definition of extremism. The housing secretary said “good-hearted people” attending the marches should be aware […]

UK to create ‘blacklist’ of Muslim groups under new extremism definition Government is bringing in robust changes to target groups and individuals 'undermining' British values

March 5, 2024 Nicky Harley and Tariq Tahir

(National-UAE) The UK government is creating a “blacklist” of organisations under a new definition of extremism which would see their funding cut. Several Muslim groups are likely to be on the list after being singled out in government reports. The groups facing […]

Michael Gove rewrites definition of extremism after decades-long battle UK has been facing rising tensions, with Rishi Sunak warning of 'forces here trying to tear us apart'

March 5, 2024 Nicky Harley

(National-UAE) For almost two decades, British politician Michael Gove has made it his mission to push for more stringent measures to tackle extremism in the UK. Now, after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned just days ago that the country was being torn […]

Islamist extremism ‘not being effectively tackled by government,’ warns reviewer of counter-terror scheme Prevent

February 22, 2024 Kit Heren

(LBC) British people are being made less safe by the government’s failure to tackle Islamist extremism, an independent reviewer of its anti-extremism scheme has warned. William Shawcross, who recommended overhauling the Prevent programme to put more of a focus on Islamic extremism, […]

Reading stabbings: Officer ‘missed terrorist threat’ before killings

February 14, 2024 David Allard

(BBC) A police officer missed opportunities to report the risk posed by the killer of three men in Reading’s Forbury Gardens, an inquest has heard. Khairi Saadallah stabbed James Furlong, 36, Dr David Wails, 49, and Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, to death in […]

Probation officer was unaware Reading terrorist had killed people in Libya (LINK ONLY) [Edited headline]

February 9, 2024 EoI News

Eye on Islamism is no longer printing excerpts from articles published by certain news sources. To read the original article, click here.

Authorities repeatedly warned about Reading terrorist’s mental health, inquest hears

February 2, 2024 Unlisted Author

(ITV) An inquest into the deaths of three men stabbed to death in Reading has heard authorities were repeatedly warned about the terrorist’s mental health. Giving evidence today, the CEO of Reading Refugee Support Group said he wrote to health and probation officials […]

Matthew King: Wickford man who planned terror acts has appeal rejected

January 31, 2024 Lewis Adams

(BBC) A man who planned to attack British military personnel and join the so-called Islamic State has had a bid to reduce his life sentence rejected. Matthew King, from Essex, was jailed for life with a minimum of six years at the […]

Terrorism evidence not part of Bournemouth e-scooter inquest, coroner says

January 23, 2024 Unlisted Author

(BBC) Whether a man who murdered a stranger in a row over an e-scooter was involved in terrorism will not be considered as part of his victim’s inquest. Afghan asylum seeker Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai stabbed 21-year-old Tom Roberts in Bournemouth in March 2022. […]

GP who heads newly outlawed Islamist group ‘suspended’ by NHS England Dr Wahid Shaida, who still retains his licence to practise from the General Medical Council, is the UK head of Hizb ut-Tahrir

January 22, 2024 Michelle Rosenberg

(Jewish News) NHS England has confirmed that the Harrow GP who heads the UK branch of newly banned Islamist terror group Hizb ut-Tahrir has been suspended. As reported by Jewish News, Dr Wahid Shaida, who also uses the name Abdul Wahid, was […]

Israel-Gaza: London school warns it may close over Palestine patch row

January 19, 2024 Nathan Standley

(BBC) A primary school has warned parents it may have to close its doors because of a worsening row over a pupil wearing a Palestine flag patch to school. Barclay Primary School, in Leyton, east London, said it may have to revert […]

Gaza war creating a radicalisation moment, senior UK police officer says

January 19, 2024 Tom Symonds

(BBC) The Israel-Gaza war has created a new “radicalisation moment” in the UK with the potential to push more people towards terrorism, the head of counter-terrorism policing has said. Matt Jukes said “extraordinary amounts” of online comment, amplified by misinformation and AI-generated […]

Sir David Amess murder: Daughter files legal claim over death

January 17, 2024 Lewis Adams

(BBC) The daughter of murdered MP Sir David Amess is taking legal action against police and the Home Office for failing to prevent his death. High Court papers show Katherine Amess has filed a personal injury claim against the authorities. The Conservative […]

Man flagged as terror risk before e-scooter row murder — inquest

August 10, 2023 Toby Wadey

(BBC) An asylum seeker who murdered a man in a row over an e-scooter was flagged as a potential terrorist a year earlier, an inquest has heard. Lawangeen Abdulrahimzai, from Afghanistan, stabbed 21-year-old Tom Roberts in Bournemouth in March 2022. Dorset Coroner’s […]

MI5 foils planned Daesh-inspired terror attack on music festival

July 23, 2023 Unlisted Author

(Arab News) The UK’s domestic intelligence agency thwarted a plot by an Islamist extremist to attack a music festival attended by about 90,000 people every year, Mail Online reported. In 2022, a tipoff led [MI5] officers to arrest a 15-year-old boy suspected […]

UK unprepared for release of 120 terror convicts: report

July 20, 2023 Unlisted Author

(Arab News) The UK lacks the resources to monitor 120 convicted terrorists and people deemed “terrorist risk offenders” due to be released across the year to March 2024, according to a report issued by the country’s inspectorates of prisons, the police and […]

Tony Blair was warned of ‘appalling’ attack on UK after 9/11

July 19, 2023 Sanchia Berg

(BBC) Tony Blair was warned there could be a UK terrorist attack “even more appalling” than 9/11, declassified government documents have revealed. Days after the 2001 US attacks, the then-prime minister was told of the dangers of weapons of mass destruction. In […]

Islamist terror plot teen will serve at least six years

June 2, 2023 Daniel Sandford and Judith Burns

(BBC) A 19-year-old man has been given life with a minimum term of six years for planning to stab police and soldiers. Police believe Matthew King, who converted to extreme Islamism during lockdown, could have been hours away from carrying out an […]

Teen’s terror plot against police and soldiers thwarted by mother

May 12, 2023 Daniel Sandford and Judith Burns

(BBC) A teenage Islamic State convert who has admitted plotting attacks on British police and soldiers has had his sentencing delayed after reports he has threatened to behead a prison imam. The judge at the Old Bailey has adjourned the sentencing of […]

Prevent review: Shawcross reforms risk ‘slide into authoritarianism,’ critics warn Coalition of civil society organisations, community leaders and rights groups urge the British government to withdraw Shawcross report

March 21, 2023 Simon Hooper and Areeb Ullah

(Middle East Eye) The UK is facing a “slide into dangerous authoritarianism” if the government proceeds with the recommendations of a contentious review of Prevent, critics of the counter-terrorism strategy have warned. In a joint letter issued on Tuesday, a coalition of […]

Luton: Bomb-making and explosives guides found on mobile phone

March 15, 2023 Unlisted Author

(BBC) A man has been convicted of terrorism offences after extremist material was found on his mobile phone. Mohammed Adnan Saleem, 22, of Montrose Avenue, Luton, had saved several banned documents, including a bomb-making manual and a file on explosives. He was […]

London’s counter-terror Prevent referrals buck UK trend — meeting

March 8, 2023 Jess Warren

(BBC) Most of London’s anti-terrorism referrals are for “Islamist activity,” bucking a national trend, London’s Police and Crime Committee has heard. Latest figures from Prevent show there were more than three times the number of referrals compared to right-wing extremism, the meeting […]

Political correctness allowed Islamist extremism to go unchecked in UK, British home secretary says

March 2, 2023 Unlisted Author

(Arab News) Political correctness in the UK had created a “blind spot” in its national security regarding Islamist extremism, the British home secretary said on Wednesday. Suella Braverman also said not enough had been done to clamp down on a “highly coordinated” […]

UK counterterrorism report slammed for conclusions based on ‘half-dozen cases’

February 12, 2023 Unlisted Author

(Arab News) A controversial review into the UK’s counterterrorism strategy has been slammed due to its author only witnessing half a dozen meetings of its deradicalization program, the Observer reported on Sunday. William Shawcross, who was appointed to review the British government’s […]

Prevent review: Imam criticised in anti-terror report denies claims

February 10, 2023 Tom Oakley and Andy Whittaker

(BBC) A religious chief criticised in a damning review of the UK’s scheme to prevent terrorism has hit back after being singled out in the report. The report commissioned by the Home Office suggests the Prevent strategy, which aims to identify potential […]

Prevent review: Treat Hamas and Islamic State supporters the same, says Shawcross Counter-extremism reviewer says supporters of proscribed Palestinian movement should face full force of counter-terrorism powers

February 8, 2023 Unlisted Author

(Middle East Eye) Supporters of Hamas should be treated the same as supporters of the Islamic State group and subjected to the full force of the law, a contentious review of the UK government’s Prevent counter-extremism strategy has recommended. William Shawcross’s review, […]

Government’s anti-terror programme failing to ‘understand and tackle antisemitism’ William Shawcross's long-[awaited] report into the Prevent programme includes references to cases that the author says show 'the prevalence of extreme antisemitism'

February 8, 2023 Lee Harpin

(Jewish News) The government’s anti-terror programme is not doing enough to “understand and tackle antisemitism,” a new report has concluded. The findings of former Charity Commission chairman William Shawcross’s long-awaited report into the Prevent programme included claims by the author he was […]

Prevent counter-terror scheme lambasted in review

February 8, 2023 Dominic Casciani

(BBC) The UK’s scheme to prevent terrorism has “apparently failed” repeatedly to identify attackers, a highly critical review has concluded. The report from the Home Office’s hand-picked reviewer says the Prevent strategy has lost its way. William Shawcross said the nationwide system […]

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 […]

UK officials who oversaw funding of extremist Muslim groups must be sacked: counterterrorism expert

February 6, 2023 Unlisted Author

(Arab News) UK Prevent program officials who have overseen the public funding of Muslim groups that promote extremism should be sacked, a counterterrorism expert has said in the Times newspaper. Prof. Ian Acheson, a senior adviser to the Counter Extremism Project, which […]