Prisoners wore fake suicide belts as they tried to kill a prison officer in a terrorist attack at a maximum security jail. Prosecutors say pair launched "carefully planned" attack with makeshift weapons "painstakingly constructed" from limited materials. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…

On CT/CE overlap, Neil Basu, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, calls for better counter extremism architecture: “I think we need a much more robust counter-extremism machine in the same way we’ve spent decades developing the counterterrorism machine.” thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/t…

Anti-vaxxer extremists are growing in numbers during the pandemic – we shouldn’t ignore that bit.ly/3cBPRo7

If you are worried about rising anti-vaxx sentiment and how extremists are seeking to capitalise it, Mubaraz Ahmed and I have a new piece out today on this on Independent Voices Tony Blair Institute for Global Change bit.ly/3cBPRo7

Latest by my Tony Blair Institute for Global Change colleague CA & me: "Extremist groups from across the spectrum are weaponising public concern about the pandemic to undermine trust in governments and to erode confidence in their efforts to save lives and livelihoods." independent.co.uk/voices/anti-va…

Amid violent protests in the US and growing use/abuse of the term 'terrorist,' an insightful, timely exploration of the word by Daniel Byman. Looks at definitions, implications and how using the terrorism label often obscures more than it clarifies. brookings.edu/blog/order-fro…

This is how engrained suspicion is in parts of Pakistan to polio vaccination. This poor boy has been left paralysed. But his grandfather tells us: "If I go to a mullah he will say, 'you cant trust doctors.' If I go to a Dr, he will say it's polio. I don't know who's lying."

Key to combating families refusing polio vaccine: community influencers, like this retired teacher and religious cleric from Peshawar... he helps persuade parents it's safe, using religious fatwas from prominent scholars

Anti-vaxx discussion overwhelmingly focuses on Western countries, overlooking the deep-seated, long-standing opposition to vaccines elsewhere. Pakistan is a clear example of where suspicion, conspiracy theories and religious extremism can combine to threaten public health.

Following the killing of a police officer in Croydon, BBC correspondent @DannyShawBBC says attacker was believed to have been known to counter-terrorism police having been on their radar in the past. This has not been confirmed by Metropolitan Police. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-542931…

Abedi brothers did not act alone - they must have received technical/financial help and others who knew about the attack remain at large, according to a barrister representing British Transport Police at the inquiry into the Manchester bombing. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…

Teen,17, from Rugby, who told police he was "nine to 10" on a scale of terror, found guilty of preparing acts of neo-Nazi terrorism. He had previously pleaded guilty to nine charges in relation to possessing documents likely to be useful for terrorism. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan…

The proposed Westminster Holocaust memorial may represent a ‘terror trophy site,’ but we cannot allow terrorists to dictate our lives. Pleased that ⁦Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov⁩ remain committed to the memorial location and confident in ensuring the site’s security. bbc.co.uk/news/uk-544280…

Migrant routes across Europe used by ISIS terrorists who launched attacks on Paris could again be used by extremists. Experts fear these well-trodden paths will again be used in recruitment drives for the terrorist group. thenational.ae/world/fears-te…

Facebook has banned all accounts linked to the QAnon conspiracy theory movement from its platforms. The move is a significant escalation to Facebook's earlier decision to remove/restrict groups promoting QAnon. bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-…

New threat assessment report by Homeland Security highlights: -Threat of white supremacist violent extremism -China threat to US as global/economic leader -China, Russia & Iran will try to compromise US elections -Exploitation of lawful protest causing violence dhs.gov/sites/default/…

Britain to overhaul its counter-extremism strategy on.ft.com/3jQGoMq

“Counter-extremism is on its way out.” UK counter-extremism strategy to be overhauled, replaced by focus on hateful behaviour. Home Office plans to scrap the counter-extremism unit and absorb work into the new programme or existing counter-terror work. ft.com/content/b2c00b…

After five memorable years, today marks my last day working at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. It has been a privilege to work for such an incredible organisation and with such inspiring colleagues. Sad to be saying goodbye, but I am looking forward to embarking on an exciting new adventure.

For many people, tech made 2020 survivable. But some of the exhaust fumes of the engine of progress have been toxic. It is likely that 2021 will see further testing of terrorism legislation against violence of lone actors and internet-spread ideological causes /1