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Anti-terror police chief warns of growing threat from 'lone wolf' Neo-Nazi extremists
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Britain faces a growing threat from violent right-wing
extremists operating as "lone wolves", the country's most senior
anti-terror officer said today.
Assistant Commissioner John Yates said more resources had been
targeted at Neo-Nazis because of fears of attacks and warned of
bombers operating alone and without an organised network behind
them.
Mr Yates told the Commons Home Affairs Committee: "What we have
seen in recent years is a growth around some of the far-right
extremism movements.
"Mostly they tend to be less organised, you tend to see the concept
of the lone wolf.
"There have been several manifestations of that in past months and
several arrests.
"That is something we take extremely seriously and we make sure we
balance our resources to deal with that threat."
His response came to a question from Labour MP David Winnick who
asked him about racist and fascist groups who turned to
violence.
This summer the so-called "Bedroom Bomber" Neil Lewington
(pictured) from Reading was convicted of planning a racist terror
campaign on the streets of Britain.
The Old Bailey heard he wanted to emulate his far-right heroes,
Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh and Soho nail bomber David
Copeland.
His plotting was uncovered by chance when he was arrested for
drunkenly abusing a train conductor and officers found he was
carrying bomb parts.
Officers in West Yorkshire recently foiled an international plot to
put guns and explosives in the hands of violent bigots in
Britain.
At least 32 people were quizzed and 22 addresses searched across
the North of England in April and May.
Mr Yates also told the committee of the danger of terrorists
targeting Christmas shoppers in major shopping areas and outdoor
markets in the run up to 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."
