ondoners are being warned to be on the alert to thwart a potential pre-Christmas terror attack as the country’s top counter-terrorism officer revealed that investigations into extremist plotting have reached a new record high.
Met Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said he feared that the public might become complacent as London faces the risk of being moved into Tier 3 restrictions which are likely to reduce the number of crowded spaces and venues that terrorists might strike.
But he said that the danger still remained because of online radicalisation during the coronavirus lockdowns and the continued threat of Islamic State and al-Qaeda.
He said that meant that there was a severe risk of “self-initiated” attacks by extremists, including some radicalised within weeks, over the coming weeks.
He added that the attack on Streatham High Road earlier this year, in which two people were injured before the freed terror convict Sudesh Amman was shot dead by police. had shown how terrorists could target less obvious locations.
Mr Basu said tip offs from friends and family who were likely to be best placed to spot changes in behaviour were particularly critical.
He said this included using the ACT Early website - www.actearly.uk - set up to give an extra reporting and advice route to anyone worried about a person they know.
But he urged Londoners to also be on the lookout for anyone who appeared to be conducting reconnaissance or who is showing other signs that might indicate terrorist intent, such as carrying an inappropriately large backpack or scouting security at a prominent location.
“We don’t want people to become complacent,” Mr Basu told the Standard, pointing out that the recent attacks in France and Austria had occurred on the eve of those countries imposing tighter coronavirus restrictions.
“We are at a severe threat level, meaning an attack is highly likely and we are there for a reason. In the last two weeks we reached a historic high in the number of investigations that we are dealing with so it’s well over 800.
Police and paramedics treat an injured person
Daniel Sorabji/AFP/Getty Images
A woman is helped to an ambulance at London Bridge
Daniel Sorabji/AFP/Getty Images
Armed police at London Bridge
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Emergency personnel tend to wounded on London Bridge
Yui Mok/PA Wire
Daniel Sorabji/AFP/Getty Images
Daniel Sorabji/AFP/Getty Images
Debris and abandoned cars remain on London Bridge
Chris J Ratcliffe/AFP/Getty Images
People walking down Borough High Street
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Armed Police officers on London Bridge
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
People flee along Borough High Street
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Police officers outside the Barrowboy and Banker Public House on Borough High Street
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Shocked onlookers in Borough High Street
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Police sniffer dogs on London Bridge
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Armed Police talk to members of the public outside London Bridge Hospital
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
People run down Borough High Street
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
A helicopter lands on London Bridge
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
An armed officer on London Bridge
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Police officers on Borough High Street
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Emergency personnel on London Bridge
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Armed police on Borough High Street
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Armed Police officer looks through his weapon on London Bridge
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
People run along Borough High Street
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Police at the scene on Southwark Bridge
Carl Court/Getty Images
A paramedic rushes to the scene
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
An armed officer on London Bridge
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
A paramedic at the scene
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Armed police on Borough High Street
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
Emergency personnel on London Bridge
Yui Mok/PA Wire
Police officers outside the Barrowboy and Banker Public House on Borough High Street
Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire
People are lead to safety away from London Bridge
Carl Court/Getty Images
“Depending where London ends up, I think people could be in danger of being complacent because they think a lack of crowded spaces or publicly accessible spaces means that the opportunity is less and the threat is lower.
“But Streatham High Road proved that it isn’t just the iconic locations like Oxford Street that make the difference. If a terrorist wants to commit a terrorist offence they will.”
Mr Basu said the isolation that people had experienced during the coronavirus pandemic had heightened the threat of some becoming radicalised online out of sight of teachers, health staff, police or others who might normally have spotted changing behaviour.
Warning about “self-initiating” terrorists, he added: “They are the greatest threat. The people who are inspiring and radicalising themselves through online extremism.
“We’ve had ten months of self-isolation and anyone who is malleable or suggestable to this sort of stuff is going to have seen a growth in it over the last ten months and is probably going to be more anchored to it than they ever have been before.
Police are dealing with an incident in Streatham
Andy Bullemor
Police officers conduct a search of a bail hostel in south London
AFP via Getty Images
A woman reacts near to the scene where a man was shot and killed by armed police
Getty Images
Forensic officers at the scene following the terror attack in Streatham High Road
PA
Police cordon off a property in Streatham
PA
Forensic officers outside a property on Leigham Court Road, Streatham
PA
Police activity at the scene following the terror attack in Streatham High Road
PA
Police officers look under a bus as they work at the scene of Sunday's terror stabbing attack in the Streatham area of south London
AP
Forensics investigate the scene of the terror attack on Monday morning
Jeremy Selwyn
Armed police at the scene in Streatham High Road
PA
Police officers at the scene after a man was shot by armed police
Getty Images
Forensics investigate the scene of the terror attack on Monday morning
Jeremy Selwyn
Armed police officer on Streatham High Road
PA
Forensics investigate the scene of the terror attack on Monday morning
Jeremy Selwyn
Police officers guard a cordon on Streatham High Road, at the junction of Prentis Road
AFP via Getty Images
Forensics investigate the scene
Nigel Howard
Police officers at the scene after a man was shot by armed police
Getty Images
Armed police at the scene in Streatham High Road
PA
Items left on the pavement at the scene in Streatham High Road
PA
Police secure the area in Streatham
AP
Forensics investigate the scene
Nigel Howard
“It is a great mechanism for online grooming. Many of these radicalisers are not the people committing the offences, they are getting a vessel to do that for them, and I’m concerned that those vulnerable people have been more exposed. So there may be less opportunity in terms of crowded spaces but that’s no reason to be complacent.”
Mr Basu said that police had already stepped up their patrols in response and also wanted to encourage businesses to ensure that they were prepared to cope in the event of a terrorist attack through measures such as lockdown or evacuation procedures.
He said the “run, hide, tell” message that police advise people to follow in the event of an incident should also be communicated to staff by employers and also urged the public to assist by reporting concerns.
“If it raises the hairs on the back of your neck, that’s good enough for me. All terrorists do hostile reconnaissance. Long before an attack happens they will have been doing some planning and that’s what we want people to be looking out for,” he said.