Britain faces an increasing threat from right-wing extremists operating as “lone wolves”, the country’s senior anti-terrorism officer said yesterday.
More resources are being directed towards neo-Nazis because of fears that they will mount attacks, John Yates, assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, told MPs.
Mr Yates warned of right-wing extremists operating alone, without an organisational network. He told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee: “What we have seen in recent years is a growth around some far-right extremism movements.”
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Mr Yates, responding to a question from David Winnick, a Labour MP who asked him about racist and fascist groups who turned to violence, said the police were seeing the emergence of “the lone wolf”.
“That is something we take extremely seriously and we make sure we balance our resources to deal with that threat.”
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In the summer Neil Lewington, of Reading, was convicted of planning a racist terror campaign. The Old Bailey was told that he wanted to emulate his far-right heroes, Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma bomber, and David Copeland, the Soho nail bomber.
Mr Yates also told the committee of the danger of terrorists targeting Christmas shoppers in major shopping areas and outdoor markets in the festive season. More officers would be targeted at threat areas depending on intelligence, he said.
He said: “In the coming months we will look at Christmas markets, Christmas shopping areas where the threat is likely to rise.”