‘ UK foiled 4 far- right terror plots last year’

London, Feb. 27: Britain foiled four far- right terrorist plots last year as the threat from extremist right- wing groups became more active in the country, the UK’s counterterrorism chief has revealed.

Scotland Yard assistant commissioner Mark Rowley used his preretirement speech last evening to warn against the growing threat from such terror groups.

“The rightwing threat was not previously organised. Every now and then there’s been an individual motivated by that rhetoric who has committed a terrorist act but we’ve not had an organised rightwing threat like we do now,” he said.

Mr Rowley, the UK’s national lead on counterterrorism policing who is set to retire in two weeks, was addressing the annual Colin Cramphorn memorial lecture in central London.

In his speech, he drew many comparisons between Islamist and farright groups and figures, such as Islamic State ( ISIS) and National Action. “Ironically, while Islamist and extreme rightwing ideologies may appear to be at opposing ends of the argument it is evident that they both have a great deal in common... ( which is) increasing tensions and divisions in communities,” he said. Mr Rowley has been the seniormost officer in counter- terrorism in the UK since June 2014.

In the last year alone, he has overseen the response to five terrorist attacks in the UK.