UK Has Arrested Over 100 on Syria-Related Terror Offences

The number of terror arrests related to Syria has exceeded 100 so far this year, four times as many as in the whole of 2013, according to data obtained by the Sun.

A total of 104 people have so far been arrested due to their links to the conflict, with offences ranging from terror funding and training to returning jihadis suspected of plotting attacks in Britain.

Thirty-five people were arrested between July and September alone, as the West began airstrikes against the self-proclaimed Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. This compares to just 25 arrests in the whole of last year.

These arrests now account for half of all terror arrests in Britain, showing how Syria and Islamic State are becoming a focus for extremism in Britain. There have been a total of 218 arrests for suspected terrorist activity this year so far.

Home Office ministers have also used the Royal Prerogative 21 times so far this year to seize passports belonging to terror suspects believed to be about to travel to Syria.

Speaking to MPs yesterday, Immigration Minister James Brokenshire said that suspects have their passports removed because they were “seeking to harm the UK and her allies”. He added: “We face a real and serious threat from international terrorism, including individuals associated with the ISIL”.

Earlier this week, teacher Jamshed Javeed pleaded guilty to two Syria-related terror offences. The 30-year-old chemistry teacher admitted to two counts of engaging in conduct in preparation of terror acts, and confessed that he intended to travel to Syria to join rebels. He will be sentenced in December.

Anti-terror chief Mark Rowley admitted earlier this month that several deadly terrorist plots are being disrupted year, as senior police admitted that they had not seen so much activity for nearly a decade.

Assistant Commissioner Rowley said that his offers were running an “exceptionally high” number of investigations, with at least three major plots having been disrupted since the start of the year.