Media coverage of attacks ‘may encourage terrorists’

BRITAIN’S most senior counter-terrorism officer has said media coverage of deadly attacks could be exacerbating the problem and increasing the threat.

Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu, said while he did not seek to undermine press freedom, he was concerned that the reporting of atrocities could be unwittingly promoting terrorism.

Mr Basu said he understood demand for information when a deadly attack took place, but suggested the “relentless” coverage on the mainstream and social media was not always helpful.

His comments come just months after he became embroiled in a row over press freedom following the publication of leaked cables from Sir Kim Darroch, the former British ambassador to Washington.

Mr Basu was heavily criticised when he suggested journalists who published such information could be prosecuted for breaching the Official Secrets Act.

In his latest comments he warned the media against providing blanket coverage when a terrorist attack took place. Speaking at an international conference on counter-terrorism in Israel, Mr Basu said the whole of society, including the media, had a role to play in helping to stop extremists.

He suggested the coverage that followed such an incident might be playing into the terrorists’ hands by helping them promote their cause.

“Relentless media coverage of terrorist events is understandable given the public interest, but may exacerbate the problem. I am concerned that both social and mainstream media unwittingly amplify the threat,” he said.

“I don’t seek to undermine press freedoms – they are important – but I do want to work with them to understand if their reporting style can help prevent, not promote, terrorism.”

Mr Basu also revealed that the UK authorities had prevented 22 terror plots since the Westminster Bridge attack in March 2017 – a third of them associated with far-right extremism.