£2m fund to create technology that identifies terror attackers in crowds

 The Government has announced funding for anti-terror technology that could be used to identify possible attackers in large crowds.

Up to £2million is to be made available to fund research into techniques that could better protect citizens from bomb or gun attacks and ministers hope the scheme will yield methods that will improve the detection of potential threats.

Recent attacks in Manchester, London Bridge and Finsbury Park all took place in locations where large numbers of people were present and counter-terror agencies are running 500 investigations involving 3,000 individuals at any one time.

Ben Wallace, the security minister, will announce the new funding at a summit in London today. He is expected to say: “We are making up to £2 million available to fund research into cutting edge technology and behavioural science projects designed to keep people safe in crowds.

“The threat from terror does not stand still so neither will we, which is why we are calling on the best and the brightest from the science and technology sector to come forward with their ideas and proposals to support our work to keep people safe.”