Seven terrorist attacks thwarted since Westminster Bridge atrocity

Police have foiled seven terrorist attacks since the Westminster Bridge atrocity in March, London mayor Sadiq Khan has revealed.

He said counter-terrorism experts have told him there has been a shift in the threat, rather than a spike in attacks, this year.

There have been five attacks in Britain this year, but police have thwarted more over the same period of time.

Mr Khan said: “The phrase used by police experts, counter-terror experts, in relation to terrorism is what we’re seeing is not a spike but a shift.

“And the reason why they say that is because if you look at the time when Fusilier Lee Rigby was murdered in 2013 up until the Westminster Bridge attack this year, there were 13 terrorist attacks thwarted because of the excellent work of the police and security services.

“If you look at the time between March of this year and now, yes there have been four terrorist attacks [in London] but there have been seven that have been thwarted.” Meanwhile, Mr Khan renewed his attacks on United States president Donald Trump over his so-called “Muslim ban”.

Mr Khan said: “Some of his views are ignorant and I think sometimes people are ignorant, and one of your jobs is to educate people. And I’m happy to educate Donald Trump.”

The mayor also backed “hybrid” shortlists to pick Labour candidates which feature only ethnic minority or women candidates to improve representation in politics.