London: The police have appealed to the public, family members and friends to help identify aspiring ‘terrorists’ as it revealed a five-fold increase in the number of arrests this year for terrorism-related offences.
Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan police’s head of counter-terrorism, made the appeal amid growing concern over homegrown militants drawn to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq and after the killing of James Foley by Islamist militants in Syria.
In his statement, Rowley said police activity has been escalating for many months now with a significant rise in the number of Syria-related arrests. There have been a total of 69 arrests in the first half of 2014 for offences covering fundraising for ‘terrorist’ activity to the preparation and/or instigation of terrorism acts and travelling abroad for ‘terrorist’ training.
Recent arrests included a 19-year-old man in Camberwell, south London. He was charged with engaging in conduct of preparation for ‘terrorist’ acts, and is awaiting trial.
Another young man, previously unknown as a ‘terrorist’ risk, was arrested last week on suspicion of planning to leave the country to travel to Syria for ‘terrorist’ acts. He remains in custody.
High priority operations, especially against those involved in attack planning or on the cusp of doing so have increased greatly. Port stops, and cash seizures have increased by more than 50 per cent in a bid to disrupt ‘terrorists’.
The biggest growth in investigations has occurred in London and the West Midlands.
“The growth of dangerous individuals poses challenges for policing, especially when nearly half of Syria travellers of concern were not known as ‘terrorist’ risks previously,” said Rowley.
“Hence we appeal to the public to help identify for us aspiring ‘terrorists’ who may be about to travel abroad, have just returned or those showing signs of becoming radicalised.”
— Guardian News & Media Ltd
