British government: We wasted millions chasing wrong terrorist threats

Times, 7 June 2011

 

 

 

 

Daily Telegraph, 6 May 2011

 

 

 

 

Yorkshire Post, 8 June 2011

 

 

 

 

Sunday Telegraph, 5 June 2011

 

 

 

 

“Intelligence indicates that a terrorist attack in our country is ‘highly likely’. Experience tells us that the threat comes not just from foreign nationals but also from terrorists born and bred in Britain. It is therefore vital that our counter-terrorism strategy contains a plan to prevent radicalisation and stop would-be terrorists from committing mass murder. Osama bin Laden may be dead, but the threat from Al Qa’ida inspired terrorism is not.” [1]

 

“Millions of pounds have been squandered overseas on anti-extremism projects that produced no security benefits, while crucial efforts to counter home-grown terrorism remain underfunded, the [British] Government will admit today.”  [2]

 

“The new Prevent [counter-terrorism strategy] [...] makes clear that there will be no more ungoverned spaces — particularly in higher and further education, in the NHS [Britain’s National Health Service] and the charities sector. To this end the review imposes a duty of care on universities to safeguard students, staff, and the wider community from dangerous radicals. [...] [T]he Preventing Extremism Unit within the Department for Education is seen by many as a role model”  [3]

“[Britain’s Interior Minister] Theresa May told The Daily Telegraph that universities were not taking the issue of radicalisation seriously enough and that it was too easy for Muslim extremists to form groups on campuses “without anyone knowing”. [...]

 

Mrs May made her comments ahead of the publication this week of the updated version of the Prevent counter-terrorism strategy.

 

“I think for too long there’s been complacency around universities,” she said. “I don’t think they have been sufficiently willing to recognise what can be happening on their campuses and the radicalisation that can take place. I think there is more that universities can do.”

 

Mrs May said universities had to “send very clear messages” and “ask themselves some questions about what happens on their campuses”. [...]

 

As part of the Prevent [counter-terrorism] strategy, the [British] Government will define as extremists anyone who “does not subscribe to human rights, equality before the law, democracy and full participation in society”, including those who “promote or implicitly tolerate the killing of British soldiers”. ”  [4]

“[London’s] Metropolitan Police is to issue all its firearms officers with the type of ammunition used to kill Jean Charles De Menezes. Hollow point bullets flatten and widen on impact, causing maximum damage to vital organs. [..] Mr De Menezes, a Brazillian falsely identified as a suicide bomber, was shot dead in 2005 with hollow point bullets.”  [5]

“Britain's most senior police officer has defended issuing bullets similar to so-called dum dum ammunition as standard to Scotland Yard marksmen. Sir Paul Stephenson said the hollow-point bullets were chosen by his force after a series of trials because they were less likely to pass through a body and hit an innocent passer-by. [...]

 

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner told LBC radio that the reasons behind the decision were “not for the squeamish”, adding that the bullet “reduces the potential of collateral damage”. [...] “The reality is we think it's appropriate.” ” [6]