UK mourns London Bridge terror attack victims one year later

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Britain held a national minute of silence on Sunday after a remembrance ceremony in the heart of its capital, one year on from the London Bridge terror attack that killed eight people and injured dozens more.

Flowers were laid, candles lit and a religious service held at Southwark Cathedral – the spot where three men in a van crashed after careening into crowds, before launching a stabbing spree at nearby Borough Market.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan (2nd L), Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (C) and Britain's Home Secretary Sajid Javid (2nd R) hold floral tributes during a commemoration service on the first anniversary of the London Bridge terror attack, at Southwark Needle on London Bridge, London, June 3, 2018. /VCG Photo

Recently-appointed interior minister Sajid Javid said the new strategy incorporated lessons from attacks in London and Manchester last year which killed 36 people and would help Britain tackle an evolving threat.

The interior ministry warned on Sunday that the threat posed by Islamist militants to Britain is expected to remain high for the next two years and could even rise.

Members of the McMullan family attend commemorations of the first anniversary of the attack on London Bridge, London, Britain, June 3, 2018. /Reuters Photo

“I see the very latest intelligence, and it’s very clear that there has been a step change in the threat from terrorism,” Javid will say in a speech at the launch of the revised strategy.

The launch will give Javid, who was appointed in April after the resignation of a close ally of Prime Minister Theresa May, a chance to stamp his own authority on Britain’s highly politicized security agenda. Some see Javid as a potential challenger to May.

London Bridge was closed down ahead of the service, cut off by crowd-control barriers and police vehicles, and swarming with watchful officers and private security.

The message on the wreath laid by London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan is seen at commemorations of the first anniversary of the attack on London Bridge, in London, Britain, June 3, 2018. /Reuters Photo

The current threat level to Britain is assessed as severe, meaning an attack is highly likely. The government said it had foiled 25 Islamist militant plots since June 2013 - 12 of those since March 2017 - and was currently handling over 500 live operations.

While Islamist militants pose the biggest threat, the risks from far-right extremism are also growing, he will say.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the Labour Party, and Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott hold wreaths during commemorations of the first anniversary of the attack on London Bridge, June 3, 2018. /Reuters Photo

“Daesh (Islamic State) and the extreme right wing are more similar than they might like to think. They both exploit grievances, distort the truth, and undermine the values that hold us together.”

A review found existing counter-terrorism policy was well-organized and comprehensive, but suggested ways it could be improved to cope with militant groups’ changing tactics.

Members of various faiths hold placards as they gather on London Bridge, London, June 3, 2018, prior to a commemoration service on the first anniversary of the London Bridge terror attack. /VCG Photo

The strategy will target better information-sharing, including with businesses, to speed up flagging of suspicious purchases, improve security at crowded places, and reduce the vulnerability of infrastructure.

It will also look to tap private sector and academic expertise to harness data analytics and machine learning to improve detection.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters