UK arrests 12 over alleged far-right plot targeting Muslim gathering

British police announced on Monday the arrest of 12 people suspected of involvement in an alleged far-right terrorist plot targeting the UK Ijtima, a large Muslim gathering held last week in Suffolk, eastern England.

According to London's Counter Terrorism Command, 11 men, aged between 27 and 82, and a 48-year-old woman were arrested on Sunday and Monday, mainly in London and eastern England. Eight of the men are suspected of terrorism offences, three others of conspiracy to commit murder, while the woman was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

The UK Ijtima, which attracted around 15,000 participants, was cut short after authorities were alerted to what they described as a serious threat. «We acted very quickly to make a number of arrests in various locations across the country», said Helen Flanagan, head of London's Counter Terrorism Command.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood described the case as «deeply concerning for British Muslims» in a post on X, adding that «we must stand against hatred».

The arrests come amid growing concern over anti-Muslim incidents in the United Kingdom. Last month, a Scottish man was charged with attempted murder after a series of knife attacks that injured five people in what authorities described as an Islamophobic attack.