Terror Attack in Finsbury Park

Last night London suffered yet another terror attack which took place in close to the Muslim Welfare House in Finsbury Park.

Media reports thus far indicate the following:

• One man died and ten people were injured when a man drove a hired van into worshippers outside the Muslim Welfare House.
• Eight people were taken to hospital after the attack outside the mosque, which is also a community centre.
• A 48 year old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
• This is the fourth terror attack in the UK in four months, after incidents in Westminster, Manchester and on London Bridge.
• Police said all victims of the attack, which was in the area of Finsbury Park Mosque, were Muslim.
• Many are believed to have just left evening prayers at the Muslim Welfare House after breaking the Ramadan fast.
• The perpetrator was “not known” to the security services.

This is not the first time that Muslims – and specifically visible Muslim targets, namely mosques – have been targeted in acts of terrorism in the UK. The threat from extreme right-wing groups has been growing in recent years. In fact 16% of all terror arrests in the year to March were classed as “domestic” extremism. Many readers may not be aware that MI5 and Counter-Terror police invest a significant amount of resources in monitoring and arresting extreme right wing activists.

In short, whilst we have experienced a number of terror acts perpetrated by Islam extremists, the risk of future attacks by extreme right wing terrorists cannot be ruled out

A more detailed bulletin on the attacks of extreme right wing groups will follow on.

Readers involved in Muslim communities or in any other faith group who may require advice on security are welcome to contact Corps Relay at the relevant email address below.

Future issues of Corps Relay will continue to provide updates on policing and security here in the UK.  In the meantime the international terror threat level in the UK remains at severe, meaning an attack is “highly likely”.

The current threat level from international terrorism for the UK was decreased on 27 May 2017 and is now assessed as SEVERE

The threat level for Irish related terrorism is set separately for Northern Ireland and Great Britain   In Northern Ireland it is SEVERE and in Great Britain it is SUBSTANTIAL

NOTE: CRITICAL means that a terrorist attack is imminent SEVERE means that a terrorist attack is highly likely SUBSTANTIAL that an attack is a strong possibility MODERATE that an attack is possible but unlikely

 

Everyone should always remain alert to the danger of terrorism and report any suspicious activity to the police on 999 or the anti-terrorist hotline on 0800 789 321.

REPORT IT!

You may end up saving a life or lives… and there is nothing more rewarding than that…

For further information, or for back copies of Corps Relay, feel free to contact our team direct on 020 7566 0516 or via

e-mail at mbluestone@corpssecurity.co.uk or ebrooksbank@corpssecurity.co.uk

Editor: Mike Bluestone

Associate Editor: Emma Brooksbank