FAR RIGHT TERROR A ‘REAL THREAT’ IN UK
Minister warns of attack here MOSQUE ‘RIVER OF BLOOD’
A NEW Zealand-style mosque massacre could “absolutely” happen here, the security minister has warned.
Ben Wallace said the Government is increasingly concerned about the “growing” number of people driven by far-right ideas.
To tackle the threat, the MP is considering boosting funds to protect mosques and other Muslim community institutions.
Speaking yesterday he said: “It absolutely could happen here.
“That’s why the Government has been concerned about the growing group of people crossing into the extremist mindset on the far-right and the neo-Nazis.
“It is why, 18 months ago, we proscribed a neo-Nazi group, National Action.”
Mr Wallace said the Government was putting “lots and lots of resources”, both into tracking down people involved in far-right activities and into the Prevent programme against radicalisation.
Half of those in the Channel part of the Prevent programme, dealing with individuals at risk of being drawn into terrorism, were involved with the far-right, he said.
Mr Wallace added: “The big concern is what comes next, not just the here and now, where there are certainly individuals currently under investigation.
“When you get a significant pool of people who think it is OK to indulge in violent extremism, to believe that someone is lesser than them, that is the pool of people that terrorists recruit from.
“In the 21st century, people can join up in a virtual community on the internet.
“They can reinforce their own ignorance and extremism, they can plan how to hurt and kill people, then they can literally step outside their front door, fuel themselves with drink or bizarre, twisted ambition and in a matter of minutes wreak havoc and hurt people and kill people.” EMERGENCY crews were confronted by a “river of blood” as they tried to help victims of the Christchurch massacre.
Paramedics had to step over the bodies of victims to save the lives of other worshippers.
White supremacist Brenton Tarrant, inset, slaughtered 50 Muslims and injured another 50 in his attack on two mosques on Friday.
Paramedics said they were confronted by a scene of “hatred” when they responded to emergency calls.
Ambulance technician Paul Bennett said: “There was a river of blood coming out of the mosque. It was literally flowing off terracotta tiles. The scene was about hatred.
“It was the most horrific thing I’ve seen. We had to lift bodies over other bodies.
“Having to do that just to do my job was horrific.”
Fellow paramedic Jason Watson, a shift supervisor, said he expected the death toll to be higher than it was.
He said: “A good half of the patients I saw go into the back of ambulances I expected to die within an hour.
“The fact that only one has, is incredible and is a plus to the entire Christchurch emergency services community.”
City officials revealed that 12 of the 50 people injured in the two attacks remain in a critical condition in intensive care.
They include Wasseim Alsati and his four-yearold daughter Alen, who have now both been airlifted to Auckland for treatment.