British police have arrested 12 people in connection with an “extreme right-wing” terrorism threat targeting an Islamic gathering held in eastern England over the weekend, amid a backdrop of rising racial tensions and hate crimes across Britain.
The arrests were carried out across the country on Sunday and Monday, with those detained ranging in age from 27 to 82. Eleven of the suspects are men, while one woman was also taken into custody.
Police “Moved Extremely Quickly” After Threat Emerged
“After becoming aware of a potential serious threat towards the Islamic event in Suffolk, we have moved extremely quickly to make a number of arrests in various locations across the country,” said Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London.
The Ijtima festival, attended by an estimated 15,000 people, was brought to an early close on police advice after officers received a tip off about a possible threat.
Terrorism and Conspiracy to Murder Suspicions
Eight of the 11 men arrested were detained on suspicion of terrorism, while the remaining three were held on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. The woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. None of those detained had been formally charged at the time of writing.
Police said there was currently no evidence pointing to a wider threat to the public, though they noted that several addresses across the UK were still being searched as the investigation continues.
