Arrests of terrorism suspects now at an all-time high in UK

TERROR suspects are being arrested in record numbers following a dramatic surge in activity by security agencies and a flurry of attacks.

Official figures show a total of 400 people were held on suspicion of terrorism-related offences in Britain in the year to the end of September — a rate of more than one every day.

This was the highest tally since data collection started in 2001 and a jump of 54% compared with the previous year.

The Home Office said the increase was partly due to a large number of arrests made following terrorist attacks in London and Manchester.

The 400 total includes 64 arrests made in connection with the Westminster (12), Manchesand ter (23), London Bridge (21), Finsbury Park (one) and Parsons Green (seven) attacks.

The figures show that of the arrests made over the year: 115 (29%) resulted in a charge, of which 97 (84%) were charged with terrorism-related offences; 213 (53%) were released without charge; 60 (15%) were released on bail pending further investigation; 11 (3%) faced “alternative action”; and one case was pending.

Of those held, a record 58 were female, while 18 were aged under 18.

The figures show the number of arrests linked to international terrorism increased by more than one-third annually, from 212 to 292.

This category refers to activity linked to or motivated by any terrorist group that is based outside the UK which operates in from third countries, such as Islamic State.

There was also a leap in arrests for “domestic” terrorism, up from 20 in the year to September 2016 to 73 in the latest 12-month period.

Domestic terrorism refers to activity where there are no links to either Northern Ireland-related or international terrorism.

The remaining arrests were Northern Ireland-related (five) and unclassified (30).

Security Minister Ben Wallace said police and security services “have been clear that we are facing a shift rather than a short-term spike in the terrorist threat”.

Counter-terror agencies believe the scale of the threat facing the country is unprecedented. Britain was hit by five attacks between March and September this year.