Top anti-terror officer bows out after 31 years

Britain’s most senior anti-terror officer who led investigations into last year’s deadly attacks has announced he is to retire from the Metropolitan Police after 31 years.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, who lost out last year as Met Commissioner to Cressida Dick, said it had been an “enormous privilege” to lead the National Counter Terrorism Policing network, but it was now time to pursue a fresh challenge.

Theresa May, the Prime Minister, expressed gratitude for his years of service and said he had provided leadership and reassurance during some of the “worst terrorist attacks in our history”.