Terror probes at unprecedented level

The number of police investigations into potential terrorist plots against the UK has reached an unprecedented level says Deputy Assistant Commissioner Peter Clarke, head of the Metropolitan police’s anti-terrorist branch.

Speaking ahead of the first anniversary of the July 7 bombings, Mr Clarke said police were involved in about 70 investigations, some related to potential terrorist threats to the UK and a majority thought to be linked to wider international conspiracies.

“The level of counter- terrorist investigations has intensified during the last 12 months. There has been an unrelenting demand for intelligence to be investigated and operations conducted to arrest suspects or disrupt terrorist activity when judged to be appropriate.

“This is unprecedented and the flow of new cases shows no signs of abating – if anything it is accelerating,” said Mr Clarke.

Mr Clarke indicated he hoped for a further strengthening of controversial anti-terrorist measures and remained strongly in favour of the period of detention without trial being extended from 28 to 90 days.