More white suspects as terror arrests surge

A SURGE in the number of white suspects has pushed the total of terrorismrelated arrests in the UK to a record high, official figures have shown.

A total of 400 people were detained on suspicion of terrorism offences last year, up 54 per cent on the previous 12 months and the highest number since records began in 2001.

While more than 60 of those arrested were detained after the Manchester and London atrocities, figures showed almost half of those arrested last year were far-right extremists.

The total number of white people arrested on suspicion of terror-related offences rose by 77 per cent, up from 81 to 143. Asians still made up the largest number of arrests overall, 174, which accounted for 44 per cent of the total, a slight drop on the previous 12 months. It was also revealed that 58 of those held were female – the highest number on record.

A Home Office statistical bulletin said: “The number of arrests in the year to September 30 2017 was the highest since the data collection began.” Out of the 400 people arrested, 97 people were charged with terror-related offences; 18 were charged with other offences; 213 were freed without charge and 60 were released on bail; 11 faced alternative action and one case was pending.

Earlier this week, Andrew Parker, the head of MI5, revealed that British intelligence had foiled nine terror plots in the past 12 months.

Ben Wallace, security minister, said police and security services “have been clear that we are facing a shift rather than a short-term spike in the terrorist threat”. He added: “But this is not the totality of our work. The whole of society must come together to challenge the terrorist threat.”