Police say they have smashed an alleged Christchurch-inspired right-wing terror plot in Luton.
Officers from Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command swooped in a dawn raid on an address in Luton last Wednesday and arrested a Polish man suspected of plotting an atrocity.
He is said to have been inspired by the gun rampage on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March.
Sources said the alleged extreme right-wing plot was in its infancy when it was foiled by police. Officers questionned a 25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of being involved in terrorism.
It is understood that no targets had yet been identified, and there is no suggestion it was related to the election or festive activities such as Christmas markets.
However, the timing of the arrest suggests that police and the security services were taking a safety first approach to eliminate the possibility that the suspect could act to disrupt last Thursday’s voting.
Police have described the rise of the far-Right as the fastest-growing terrorist threat in the UK.
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On Wednesday the Metropolitan Police said: “Detectives from the Met Police Counter Terrorism Command have arrested a man in Luton on suspicion of being involved in terrorism. They arrested the 25-year-old man under section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000, at approximately 06.10hrs this morning.
“He is now being held in custody at a south-London police station. Police are searching two addresses in Luton in connection with the investigation. There is no immediate risk to the public. Enquiries are ongoing.”
