Police told to review questions on religion of suspects

POLICE SHOULD review how closely terror suspects are questioned about their religion, a watchdog has said.

Max Hill QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, made the recommendation in a review of the investigation launched following the Westminster attack in March last year, called Operation Classific.

Twelve people were arrested in the wake of the murderous rampage by Khalid Masood, who was shot dead after killing five people, but they were all released with no further action.

Those arrested included Masood’s relatives, friends and people who lived at Birmingham addresses that he had used. Mr Hill’s report found that none of the suspects were arrested on the grounds of their ethnicity or religion, but that some were quizzed about their faith due to Masood’s extremist views and support of Islamic State. He said: “I regard this as providing a justification for the religious context of some of the questions posed in interviews during Operation Classific.

“However, every interview is case-specific and it does not follow that it would be appropriate to ask very detailed religious questions in every case where a Muslim has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism-related activity.

“I therefore recommend, in the interest of clarity, that the police take this opportunity to review training on the circumstances and extent to which such questions will be necessary in future interviews.

“I accept, however, that questioning detainees about religion or any other matter occurs with careful thought and planning.”

Meanwhile, delays faced by firefighters responding to the Manchester Arena terror attack were “not key” to whether or not people received treatment, a Minister has said. Ben Wallace praised the speed of the response from police, paramedics and ambulance crews while also acknowledging it was “regretful” that the fire service were not there quicker. The Home Office Minister’s remarks came after the Government faced calls to answer questions about the “serious failing” of the fire service on the night of the attack on May 22 2017 when 22 people died.