The UK’s prison authorities must get better at identifying the lies of committed extremists to stop them carrying out terrorist attacks when they leave prison, a senior government adviser said on Monday.
Ian Acheson, who produced a report in 2016 on extremism in jails, said the prison service lacked the staff and skills to identify killers who falsely claim to have dropped their violent ideologies.
Mr Acheson said authorities had to get a grip on the threat of extremism behind bars after attacks in 2019 and 2020 by recently released prisoners.
He gave the case of Libyan Khairi Saadallah, 26, who murdered three men in a knife attack in Reading, 65 kilometres west of London, shortly after his release from prison in June 2020.
Saadallah sought the company of prominent extremist preacher Omar Brooks while behind bars.
In November 2019, Usman Khan, 28, killed two people at a prison rehabilitation conference before being shot dead by police.
Khan had been released early from his jail sentence after a conviction for plotting to bomb London’s Stock Exchange.
Other European countries have experienced similar attacks, including Austria where a 20-year-old extremist killed four people in November 2020 after being released early from prison.
Kujtim Fejzulai had been jailed for 22 months after trying to reach Syria to join ISIS, but was turned back after he reached Turkey.
In his report for the UK government, Mr Acheson championed the use of separation units to hold some of the UK’s most dangerous and charismatic extremists to stop them radicalising young inmates in the general prison population.
Specialist multi-disciplinary teams should be used for intensive work on a small number of extremists who could be persuaded to drop their ideologies, Mr Acheson said.
He was speaking at an online seminar called "Incarcerated and Indoctrinated: How to Tackle Extremism in Prisons", run by the Henry Jackson think tank.
“I don’t think we have the intervention programmes at the moment to really make a dent in that," Mr Acheson said. "That’s how we will stop future outrages."
He is working on a project with Staffordshire University to find new techniques to assess the risk of convicted terrorists being reintegrated into the community after serving prison sentences.
Mr Acheson said failures to adequately address extremism in prison could lead to a member of staff being killed.
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Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Western Region Asia Cup T20 Qualifier
Sun Feb 23 – Thu Feb 27, Al Amerat, Oman
The two finalists advance to the Asia qualifier in Malaysia in August
Group A
Bahrain, Maldives, Oman, Qatar
Group B
UAE, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
A Dog's Journey
Directed by: Gail Mancuso
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott
3 out of 5 stars
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
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