- Sajid Javid launches new terror strategy after 5 terror attacks in UK in past year
- He called on British Muslims to use their ‘unique role’ to root out more extremists
- Teachers, social workers and council staff will receive details of 20,000 suspects
- Retailers such as Amazon to flag stockpiling chemicals, knives or ‘odd’ van hire
- More spies will be recruited and sentences for terror offences to be increased
MI5 will hand teachers, social workers and council staff the details of 20,000 people believed to pose the biggest threat to Britain after a slew of terror attacks in the past year, it was revealed today.
Sajid Javid also said that 25 Islamist-linked plots have been stopped since 2013 – an average of one every two months – and said those who commit terror attacks while calling themselves Muslims are ‘twisting their faith’.
The New Home Secretary also called on British Muslims to use their ‘unique role’ to root out more extremists in their mosques and communities.
In a powerful and personal speech he said: ‘These people want to destroy the values we hold dear, and undermine the freedoms that make us who we are.
‘And there’s one other thing that Islamists and the far-right have in common. As a Home Secretary with a name like Sajid Javid – I’m everything they despise. So the way I see it, I must be doing something right’.
He also revealed the growing threat from right-extremists and said police and MI5 has stopped four attacks in the past year as well as warning about the continuing terror threat in Northern Ireland.
The Government launched a shake-up of the UK’s counter-terrorism strategy, known as Contest, after extremists carried out atrocities in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge, Parsons Green and Finsbury Park, leading to the loss of 36 lives.
Mr Javid gave his thanks to Muslims who are fighting extremism in Britain but urged them to do even more.
He said: ‘It would be absurd to say the actions of a tiny handful represent a peaceful religion shared by more than a billion people. Although we all share the responsibility for tackling terrorism, there’s a unique role for Muslims to play in countering this threat.