Extremist links to Finsbury attack examined

POLICE are investigating whether the Finsbury Park attack suspect had links to far-right groups or extremists.

But last night there were calls for MI5 to play a greater role in investigating such organisations, amid claims the growth and sophistication of the farright has left police too stretched.

Earlier this week Ben Wallace, the security minister, said more must be done to tackle far-right extremism, after Home Office figures showed a steep rise in arrests for domestic terrorism.

At present the security service focuses on international terrorism, including British-based jihadists, and investigations in Northern Ireland. Domestic terrorism is left to police forces.

Tom Wilson, a research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, said: “If you see the trends continuing in terms of the ways that the far-right is communicating and the ideas being shared, you would want to bring in the intelligence side to undercover these networks.”

A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said tackling extreme Right-wing ideology had “long been a part of policing’s commitment to fighting extremism in all its forms”.