ARMY TO SMASH VACCINE BANDITS

Soldiers will lead net fight

A CRACK Army unit used to waging war on terror will take down anti- vaxxers and conspiracy theorists who flood the internet with disinformation, including lies about Covid- 19 vaccines.

A CRACK Army unit that tackled the Taliban and al-Qaida has been deployed to stop Covidiots frightening people off vaccines.

Specialist soldiers from the elite information warfare unit are monitoring the internet for fake news scare stories.

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: “As we edge closer to a vaccine we continue to work closely with social media companies and other organisations to anticipate and mitigate any emerging anti- vax narratives and promote authoritative sources of information.’’

Ministers are alarmed at the impact online propaganda is having on public opinion. One report found more than a third of people were uncertain or very unlikely to be vaccinated.

Combat

The secretive unit tasked with winning the vaccine disinformation war was launched in Afghanistan in 2010 and belongs to the Army’s 77th Brigade.

Its objective was to combat Taliban and al- Qaida rhetoric and has often worked side- byside with psychological operations teams.

Next month the Brigade will begin an “uplift” of professional and reserve soldiers.

The move comes after 155 people were arrested during anti-lockdown protests in London’s West End on Saturday.

Many appeared to have been influenced by anti- vax propaganda and refused to wear masks.

Ministers believe Britain will become the first western country to approve a vaccine next week.

If the Biontech and Pfizer treatment is given the nod within days as predicted, jabs could begin next Monday.

More than 50 hospital trusts in England have been designated as vaccine hubs.

COMMON sense has at long last prevailed.

For too long the laws on monitoring terrorists have been too focused on the rights of the criminals.

Human rights lawyers have argued it’s unfair to pester these scumbags once they are freed from jail.

But the London Bridge and Streatham attacks may not have happened if Usman Khan and Sudesh Amman had been monitored more closely.

Of course, human rights are important. But the priority should always be to protect the rights of those who may become the innocent victims of fanatical attacks.

If this upsets or disrupts the convicted terrorists then so what? Most of us can live with that.

We would rather they were inconvenienced by police checking up on them than left to plan their next sickening atrocity.