22 February 2023 , 18:13
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Britain faces a mounting threat from young, right-wing terrorists radicalising themselves in their bedrooms, a top MP warned tonight.
Senior Conservative backbencher Sir Julian Lewis, who chairs Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee, said some loners may try and join the Army after being lured into terrorism online.
He also raised fears of an “insider” threat lurking in UK police forces.
“Extreme right wing terrorism (ERWT) is a threat on the rise here in the UK but in today’s connected world it’s a threat without borders,” said Mr Lewis.
“While attacks have been carried out by older individuals, primarily the threat is characterised by a technologically-aware demographic of predominantly young men.
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“Few in the UK belong to organised groups, which makes them difficult to identify and monitor.
Sir Julian Lewis chairs Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee (AFP via Getty Images)“The intelligence and security services confirmed to us that the majority are self-initiated terrorists.”
Addressing the Royal United Services Institute think tank, Mr Lewis told experts the web is “a key driver” for suspects turning to extremism.
“These self-initiated terrorists are now radicalised and radicalising others in and from the seclusion of their bedrooms,” he warned.
“Their use of encrypted platforms - virtual private networks - and dark net sites makes them extremely difficult to detect and monitor.”
He added: “This is a threat with myriad challenges and a significant cross-border dimension.”
He warned that some extremists may try to join the British military, while “a similar risk exists from the insider threat in relation to the police, with concerns around the current vetting process for candidates a hot topic in the UK”.
Mr Lewis said a probe found there were also “issues around mental health”, while “a number of those convicted” of ERWT “have Asperger’s or autism spectrum disorder”.
The ISC launched an inquiry in October 2019, after it was announced MI5 would be taking over the lead on investigating ERWT from Counter Terrorism Policing.
MI5, based at Thames House, has responsibility for investigating extreme right-wing terrorism (Rex)Its study, published last July, warned: “The threat from extreme right-wing terrorism is on an upward trajectory, populated by an increasing number of young people and driven by the internet.”
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MPs added: “A small minority at the extremist end of the right-wing movement engage in racially and politically motivated violence, which has increasingly morphed into terrorism.”
Speaking tonight, Mr Lewis said failing to give MI5 extra cash to take over responsibility for ERWT was “untenable”.
He blasted the Government for failing to publish its response to the report, which was due within 60 days of the ISC report becoming public.
“We should have received it no later than September 11 last year,” he said.
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