Manchester Attacker

"Police confirm the attacker made the call after he crashed his car into a brick wall."

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— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 8 October 2025 at 15:56

More details on the social media influences on synagogue attacker …

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— Gary R. Bunt (@garyrbunt.bsky.social) 7 October 2025 at 09:07

Prisoner attack

Standard, Prisoner accused of trying to murder jail guards because they were not Muslim, 13 Jan 2025 "A suspected Islamic extremist tried to kill five prison officers with homemade weapons including a sharpened plastic spoon because they are not Muslims, the Old Bailey has heard."

Shamima Begum

BBC News, Shamima Begum accepts she joined a terror group, 11 Jan 2023 "In interviews spanning more than a year, Ms Begum - who was stripped of British citizenship as a national security risk - revealed that she was fed detailed instructions by IS members, but also undertook her own planning for the journey in 2015." This is based on a BBC Sounds' podcast "The Shamima Begum Story: I am not a monster". I haven't listened to this yet.

Prisons

Nicky Harley, The National, UK urged to separate extremist inmates after Manchester Arena terrorist formed gang, 23 Feb 2022

"The UK’s independent adviser on terrorism has urged the authorities to look at separation centres to prevent extremists from forming gangs in prison."

Glenrothes mosque

BBC News, Glenrothes mosque terror plot accused 'started to hate Muslims', 25 Oct 2021

"A man who allegedly planned to attack a mosque started to "hate" Muslims after reading far right political posts on the internet, a court has heard."

Shamima Begum

References to internet radicalisation influences here: Independent, Shamima Begum says she was a ‘dumb kid’ when she left to join Isis

"In an interview for a new documentary from the al-Roj prison camp in Syria where she is still being held, Begum said: “I don't think I was a terrorist. I think I was just a dumb kid who made one mistake."

British Muslims boycott Prevent review

MEMO, British Muslims boycott Prevent review over 'rigged' appointment of Friends of Israel founder

"An unprecedented coalition across the British Muslim community is opposing the British government's decision to appoint one of the founding members of the Friends of Israel Initiative to lead a review of a discredited anti-radicalisation programme. More than 450 Muslim civil society groups plus 100 leading figures have said that they will boycott the Review of the controversial Prevent policy to be headed by William Shawcross, whose appointment has been called "rigged" by one of the contenders for the post, a former leading prosecutor."

Not the most informed appointment for such a sensitive subject.

Reading Attack

Reading terror suspect came to UK as refugee from Libyan civil war https://t.co/Y7ziyQqnRr

— Gary Bunt (@garybunt) June 21, 2020

"Counter Terrorism Policing can now confirm that the stabbing incident that happened in Reading last night (20/6), has now been declared a terrorist incident" https://t.co/I6jfRTJ0Z0

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) June 21, 2020

Patel Criticised

Guardian, Priti Patel’s plan to tackle radicalised youth is so flawed it’s mad, says study, "Rather than rolling out more draconian measures to contain “risk”, the Youth Empowerment and Innovation Project, part funded by the Home Office, found that offering encouragement to youngsters and addressing factors such as social exclusion was a better way to mitigate violent youth radicalisation." I haven't seen the report yet. It's available here.

Streatham Attack

Virtually Islamic, Updated: Streatham Attack coverage on my other blog.

'The Perils of Engaging CVE Policy Making'

Sadek Hamid The Maydan, The Perils of Engaging CVE Policy Making: A British Case Study opinion/analysis "Academics with expertise in Islamic Studies have much to offer a public arena saturated with prejudiced media coverage, self-styled experts and growing anti-Muslim sentiment. However, making interventions in the mainstream can come at a price if individuals become targeted by well-funded interest groups. This politicization of the field can also force scholars to make the difficult decision of whether or not to engage with governments in case they are labelled as Islamophiles or “Islam sympathisers.”"

Assimilation Issues

Telegraph, British Muslims should not feel forced to assimilate, says top counter terrorism officer, 6 Aug 2019 "British Muslims should not be forced to “assimilate”, the country’s most senior counter terrorism officer has said, as he called for greater understanding of marginalised communities."

Al-Muhajiroun

Independent, Police admit failing to prosecute Islamists for membership of UK’s ‘most dangerous extremist group’

Jack Letts: 'Jihadi Jack' mother 'horrified' son was in Syria

BBC News, Jack Letts: 'Jihadi Jack' mother 'horrified' son was in Syria "The mother of a Muslim convert dubbed "Jihadi Jack" told a court she was "horrified" when he called to say he was in Syria."

'Teenager given life sentence for planned Justin Bieber gig attack'

Guardian, Teenager given life sentence for planned Justin Bieber gig attack, 2 Mar 2018 " The defendant, from Rhondda Cynon Taf, had denied preparing for an act of terrorism, two charges of encouraging terrorism online and two charges of possessing editions of an Isis propaganda magazine."

Finsbury Park attack - trial

Daily Mail, CCTV 'captures the moment Finsbury Park murderer ploughed his rental van into a crowd of Muslim worshippers leaving one man dead after asking for directions to the nearest mosque', 23 Jan 2018 Comprehensive coverage of this case, showing the roles of social media and internet content. Also see Wales Online, Cardiff man accused of carrying out Finsbury Park attack told pub-goers 'I’m going to kill all Muslims', court hears, 23 Jan 2018

Derby terror plot

Dominic Casciani, BBC News, Derby terror plot: The online Casanova and his lover, 8 Jan 2018 This is a significant case, in relation to the significance of online materials in the radicalisation processes.

Imam who told children martyrdom was 'greater success' than school convicted of supporting Isis

Independent, Imam who told children martyrdom was 'greater success' than school convicted of supporting Isis " "'When you don't fulfil the command of Allah, I'm coming to remove your head,' Kamran Hussain told Stoke-on-Trent mosque"

Radicalisation

Daily Mail, British Muslim convert was radicalised by ISIS videos online "Jurors were told Watson's encrypted chats with undercover agents 'reveal the extent of his hatred for Western society and his avowed intent to take part in terrorist activity'.
"On his phone, police found books including 'The Path to the Land of Battle' by an Al Qaeda figure, '39 Ways to Participate and Serve in Jihad', and copies of the IS magazine Dabiq."

Who are Britain’s jihadists?

BBC News, Who are Britain’s jihadists? "Approximately 850 people from the UK have travelled to support or fight for jihadist groups in Syria and Iraq, say the British authorities."