Neil Basu, ex-Counter Terrorism Police Chief of the Metropolitan Police, has stated that the Southport killer, Axel Rudakabana, is not a 'terrorist' despite his guilty plea to three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, and two terror-related charges. Basu believes labeling individuals like Rudakabana as terrorists could give them the notoriety they seek and inspire further violence. His comments follow Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's warning about a new breed of terrorist emerging in the UK. Basu argues that while Rudakabana's actions are horrific, they do not constitute terrorism, which he defines as a political crime. He highlights the difficulty of preventing attacks originating from internet radicalization and emphasizes the need for caution in labeling individuals as terrorists.
The former Counter Terrorism Police Chief of the Metropolitan Police, Neil Basu , has stated that individuals like the Southport killer are 'pathetic, vulnerable, criminal losers' but not 'terrorists'. His comments follow Prime Minister Rishi Sunak 's warning about a new breed of terrorist emerging in the UK, comprising violent 'loners and misfits', in the wake of the Southport killings.
Axel Rudakabana, now 18, pleaded guilty to three counts of murder, 10 of attempted murder, along with two terror-related charges yesterday. Speaking on Tonight with Andrew Marr on LBC, Mr. Basu emphasized the UK's 'incredibly strong terrorist legislation' in response to Starmer's pledge to strengthen terror laws. He explained, 'If we start naming these people terrorists, you will probably give them exactly what they're looking for, which is their day of fame, their day of infamy. You will, in my view, inspire more of these acts, and these acts aren't terrorism. Terrorism is a political crime,' he clarified.Mr. Basu expressed caution about expanding terrorism law to encompass lone actors, stating, 'We have very strong terrorism laws in this country. They apply to lone actors as much as they apply to organised terrorist networks.' He acknowledged that while counter terrorism policing and local policing in Merseyside were unable to identify a clear ideology behind the attack, this didn't necessarily mean one wasn't present. Mr. Basu also highlighted the growing trend of attacks perpetrated by individuals rather than groups as a 'serious problem'. He explained, 'It was violent people who have violent thoughts and want to commit violent acts, often trying to find a reason to do that. It's what's called mixed ideology now and is a very big percentage of the case work. Also, appallingly, they're getting younger, as we've seen in this monstrous example.'When questioned about the police's ability to identify potential attackers, Mr. Basu emphasized the complexities faced by law enforcement agencies in tracking individuals radicalized online. He underscored that while not entirely impossible, it would be difficult for authorities to prevent attacks originating from internet radicalization, as many individuals harbor violent intentions without being part of terrorist groups or networks. 'There are an awful lot of people who have violent intent, who have nothing to do with terrorism,' he stated. Mr. Basu also cautioned against labeling individuals as 'terrorists,' arguing that doing so could inadvertently grant them the notoriety they seek. 'These are pathetic, vulnerable, criminal losers. They are not terrorists,' Mr. Basu added. 'If we start naming these people terrorists, you will probably give them exactly what they're looking for, which is their day of fame, their day of infamy.' He further elaborated, 'I think people think that because somebody commits an act that mirrors terrorist methodology, they are a terrorist. He proposed that the case could have been rooted in a violent extremist misogyny, citing the Incel movement as an example, which advocates for violent attacks against women and girls. However, Neil believes the issue may not necessarily require changes to the law. 'It may well be that he's just not confessed to it, or we have not found the evidence for that. I don't think that requires a change in the law in order to determine that.'Mr. Basu reiterated his stance, stating, 'I'll say what I've said before is we should be very careful about labelling people terrorists with that incredibly emotive word that strikes fear into the heart of the public, even more fear than the random acts of violence and murder that we see too often in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. We should not give it the label terrorism if it is not terrorism, it's a mistake.' In a national address on Tuesday, Sir Keir Starmer stated 'the whole country grieves' for the victims of the Southport attack and that it 'must be a line in the sand for Britain.' He emphasized the need for 'fundamental change' in how the country protects its children. He dismissed claims of a 'cover-up' and asserted that any inquiry should be 'unburdened by cultural sensitivities,' adding that institutions will not be allowed to 'deflect' responsibility. Sir Keir unequivocally rejected allegations of a 'cover-up' of terrorist links in the immediate aftermath of the atrocity, stating that he was aware of the details 'as they were emerging' but could not risk the case collapsing and the 'vile' perpetrator walking away free. He declared that 'institutional failure 'leaps off the page' and warned that 'terrorism had changed.'
Terrorism Southport Killer Neil Basu Met Police Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Incel Internet Radicalization Law Enforcement Violent Extremism
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