Britain has 23,000 terror suspects
3,000 maniacs are plotting 500 attacks
MORE than 23,000 people are a terror threat to the UK, the Home Office revealed today.
About 3,000 of them are “subjects of interest” plotting 500 outrages.
A further 20,000 individuals have been investigated and had their cases closed but may still pose a threat.
Police and the security services have foiled 25 Islamist plots since June 2013 – 12 since March last year.
The figures were released a year to the day three terrorists inspired by Islamic State killed eight people and wounded 48 at London Bridge and Borough Market.
The terrorists drove a van into crowds then jumped out to stab people before police shot them dead. The Home Office expects the UK threat level to remain “severe” – meaning an attack is highly likely – for the next two years. A senior counter-terror officer urged the public to remain vigilant. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dean Haydon said: “The police and security services are working extremely hard, foiling and disrupting terrorist attacks all the time.” Home Secretary Sajid Javid will tomorrow announce new measures to strengthen antiterror operations. They include improved data sharing and analysis, as well as MI5 teaming up with local authorities to manage risk. And there will be a toughening up of the approach to right-wing extremist groups. The Home Office says Islamist terrorism is the biggest threat, in particular that inspired by IS and al-qaeda.
But it says neo-nazis are a growing problem, with four extreme right wing plots disrupted since March 2017.
Today, survivors of the London Bridge atrocity were due to be joined by bereaved families, emergency service staff and politicians for a remembrance service at Southwark Cathedral.
Mr Javid told the service tackling terrorism was his “first priority every day in this job”.
He added: “Ultimately the strongest response is not just what we do, but who we are. The best way to stop terrorists achieving their aims is to stand by our values of tolerance and fairness.”