The leader of counter-terrorism in Britain has expressed concern that more young people, including children as young as 10, are being lured towards violence through the “mix of fear” they encounter on the internet.
Vicky Evans, the deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and senior national co-ordinator for counter-terrorism, noted a shift in radicalization, stating, “There has been a significant increase in interest in extremist content that we are identifying through our crime monitoring activities.”
Evans highlighted the disturbing trend of suspects seeking out material that either lacks ideology or glorifies violence from various sources. She emphasized the shocking and alarming nature of the content encountered by law enforcement in their investigations.
The search history reveals a disturbing fascination with violence, misogyny, gore, extremism, racism, and other harmful ideologies, as well as a curated selection of frightening content.
Detectives from the Counter-Terrorism Police Network are dedicating significant resources to digital forensics to apprehend young individuals consuming extremist material, a troubling trend according to Evans.
The government introduced measures to reform the Prevent system, aimed at deterring individuals from turning to terrorism. They are also reassessing the criteria for participation in Prevent to address individuals showing interest in violence without a clear ideological motive.
Evans emphasized the persistent terrorist threat in the UK, particularly in “deep, dark hotspots” that require urgent attention. Despite efforts to prevent terrorism, the UK has experienced several attacks in recent years.
After newsletter promotion
There have been 43 thwarted terrorist plots since 2017, with concerns over potential mass casualty attacks. The counter-terrorism community is also monitoring the situation in Syria for any potential threats from individuals entering or leaving the country.
Source: www.theguardian.com
