MI5 shake-up gives more attention to far-right terror

THE security service has mounted a shake-up of its counter-terrorism teams to combat the growing threat by far-Right extremists – and created a special unit to target “single issue” terrorism.

MI5 investigations into extremists will now run alongside those inspired by Islamist groups, enabling them to treat each threat in the same way irrespective of ideology.

The move follows the growing concern over the threat posed by far-right extremists in the UK and around the world. They now make up almost a fifth of terrorists in prisons in England and Wales.

MI5 took over the lead role in tracking far-right terrorist plots from the police six months ago. Officers tracking them are now working alongside those trying to uncover jihadist plots using the same methods of collecting information, directing informants and analysing intelligence.

The security service has also created a new team branded LASIT, an acronym for Left-wing, anarchist and single issue terrorism such as animal rights.

Jihadist, far-right and LASIT plots constitute 67 per cent of MI5’S workload, with a further 20 per cent taken up by Northern Irish terrorism and the remaining 13 per cent devoted to operations in the UK by so called hostile states including Russia and China.

There have been four attacks classed as Right-wing terrorism since 2013 but officials said the majority of their investigations are taken up by jihadist plots inspired by Islamic State and al-qaeda.

A Europol report last year found the UK suffered the highest number of far-Right attacks and plots in Europe.