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Home Secretary Amber Rudd announces independent review into recent terror attacks

The Home Secretary has announced an independent review of how the authorities handled the recent terror attacks which left 36 people dead.

Amber Rudd told the Commons on Thursday a "new phase of global terrorism" is beginning, noting: "We now believe we're experiencing a new trend in the threat we face."

The review will see if "lessons can be learned" from the attacks in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge and Finsbury Park.

Ms Rudd said the four attacks had seen "36 innocent people dead and over 150 hospitalised", adding: "A tragic loss of innocent life."

She reiterated more must be done to tackle the extremists who seek to "radicalise and weaponise" young people in Britain.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd makes a statement to MPs in the House of Commons (PA)
Home Secretary Amber Rudd makes a statement to MPs in the House of Commons (PA)

She said: "Doing more also means asking difficult questions about what has gone wrong.

"In light of the terror attacks in London and Manchester, Britain's counter-terror strategy will be reviewed to make sure the police and the security services have what they need to keep us safe.

"In addition to this, there will be a review of the handling of recent terror attacks to look at whether lessons can be learned about our approach.

"I'm pleased to announce that David Anderson, former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, will be overseeing it."

MPs heard that 13 plots linked to or inspired by Islamist extremists were foiled between June 2013 and the Westminster Bridge attack in March this year.

Ms Rudd added that five plots have been prevented since March, with three Islamist plots succeeding - while the Finsbury Park attack has also taken place in which a van driver targeted an area busy with worshippers attending Ramadan night prayers at the nearby mosque.

She said: "We must do more to defeat ideologies of hatred by turning people's minds away from violence and towards pluralistic British values.

"We must make sure that these ideologies are not able to flourish in the first place. We must do more to force tech companies to take down terror-related content from their platforms.

"And we must also do more to identify, challenge and stamp out extremism that lurks in our communities."

Ms Rudd said that is why the Government wants to set up a Commission for Countering Extremism.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott responds to the statement by Amber Rudd (PA)
Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott responds to the statement by Amber Rudd (PA)

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said ministers should focus on boosting police resources over creating more laws, adding: "Cuts have consequences."

She told MPs: "We will look at all legislative proposals that the Government brings forward on their merits but we believe that resources are at the heart of this, not just new legislation."

Ms Abbott pressed the Home Secretary to commit to halting cuts to policing budgets and asked whether "austerity still applies to our safety".

Quoting a letter outlining concerns from the UK's top counter-terrorism officer over resources, she said: "What (Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner) Mark Rowley is saying is that cuts have consequences and your cuts run the risk of putting us all in danger.

"Our understanding on this side is you are going to cut again."