Counter terrorism officers have arrested 12 people over an alleged extreme right-wing terror plot targeting one of Britain’s largest annual Muslim gatherings.
Police say the investigation relates to a suspected threat against the UK Ijtima, an annual Tablighi Jamaat Islamic gathering held at Shrubland Hall in Suffolk, which attracted around 15,000 worshippers over the weekend.
The event was brought to an early close yesterday after police warned organisers of a potential serious threat.
In a statement released on Monday, Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London confirmed that 12 people had been arrested across England as part of what it described as an “extreme right-wing terrorism-related” investigation.
Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said that after becoming aware of a potential serious threat towards the Islamic event in Suffolk, officers had moved “extremely quickly” to make a number of arrests across the country.
She added that the news would understandably concern the public, “and particularly those in the Muslim community, given that we believe the intended target was an Islamic event.”
She said police would “not hesitate to act if there is any potential threat, no matter who or what the potential target may be,” adding that although the event ended slightly earlier than planned, it nevertheless passed off safely.
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Major counter-terror operation
Those arrested include men aged between 27 and 82, as well as a 48-year-old woman, detained in Surrey, Essex, Greater Manchester, London and Ipswich.
Eight men have been arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
Three further men were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, while the woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Police are continuing to search addresses linked to those arrested.
Suffolk Constabulary said a major incident was declared early on Sunday to coordinate the safe departure of approximately 15,000 attendees from the site.
Assistant Chief Constable Alice Scott said the situation had been “a complex and fast-moving scenario” and thanked organisers and attendees for remaining calm while agencies worked together to ensure everyone left safely.
What is the UK Ijtima?
The UK Ijtima is one of Britain’s largest annual Islamic gatherings and is organised by members of Tablighi Jamaat, a global Islamic revival movement founded in India in the 1920s.
The movement focuses on encouraging Muslims to strengthen their faith through prayer, learning, personal reform and preaching (da’wah). It generally avoids involvement in party politics, instead concentrating on religious practice and community life.
Each year, thousands of Muslims from across Britain travel to the event for several days of prayers, Qur’an recitation, Islamic lectures and communal worship.
The gathering at Shrubland Hall, near Ipswich, is regarded as one of the largest regular Muslim religious events in the UK.
Muslim community likely to be alarmed
The alleged plot comes at a time of heightened concern over anti-Muslim hatred in Britain.
The arrests are likely to raise fresh questions about the threat posed by violent far-right extremism to Muslim communities in Britain.
Although so-called “Islamist terrorism” has dominated public debate for much of the past two decades, MI5 and UK counter-terrorism officials have repeatedly warned in recent years that extreme right-wing terrorism now represents a significant proportion of the domestic threat picture.
The UK’s national terrorism threat level currently remains at “Severe”, meaning an attack is considered highly likely.
Enquiries remain ongoing, and no one has yet been charged.
