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Isis planning 'enormous' attacks, UK counter-terrorism chief warns Isis planning 'enormous' attacks, UK counter-terrorism chief warns
(about 4 hours later)
The UK is facing the threat of "enormous and spectacular attacks" by Isis as the extremist group aims to wage war on Western lifestyles, the national head of counter-terrorism has warned. Police have revealed they will use Twitter to keep the public informed of an unfolding terrorist assault as they warned that Britain is facing the threat of “enormous and spectacular” attacks by Isis.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said that while in the past few years the Islamist group has called on would-be jihadis to attack police and the military, their plots are now broader "plans to attack Western lifestyle". The senior officer in charge of counter-terrorism policing warned that the Islamist group had evolved its strategy away from targeting police and the military to assaults on “Western lifestyle” which have necessitated changes in police tactics.
He said: "In recent months we've seen a broadening of that, much more plans to attack Western lifestyle, and obviously the Paris attacks in November. Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said the Yard would be taking a “more speedy, precautionary approach” as they try to limit the death toll from scenarios including a Paris-style attack by marauding gunmen on multiple sites in London or other major cities.
"Going from that narrow focus on police and military as symbols of the state to something much broader. And you see a terrorist group which has big ambitions for enormous and spectacular attacks, not just the types that we've seen foiled to date." Officers managing an ongoing assault will use Twitter to advise the public on how to respond, including the new “Run, Hide, Tell” strategy outlined last year. Police said they wanted Londoners to follow their social media account - @metpoliceuk - to ensure they receive updates in what is likely to be a “fast-moving, dangerous and probably confusing” situation.
He added: "You see a terrorist group that whilst on the one hand has been acting as a cult to use propaganda to radicalise people to act in their name ... you also see them trying to build bigger attacks." Mr Rowley said: “In recent months we’ve seen more plans to attack Western lifestyle… [Isis is] going from that narrow focus on police and military as symbols of the state to something much broader.
Mr Rowley, who is the national policing lead for counter-terrorism, said that Isis is trying to get supporters who have received military training in Syria into northern Europe to stage attacks. “And you see a terrorist group which has big ambitions for enormous and spectacular attacks, not just the types we’ve seen foiled [in Britain] to date.”
The counter-terror boss said the "shared effort to look for any possible links of those networks or other networks that have reached the UK is obviously a massively high priority". He added “The speed with which we mobilise resources will change and will be on a larger scale. The priority is to save life. We are going to be much more speedy and precautionary in our approach.”
In the last three years the number of arrests of terrorist suspects has risen by 57 per cent compared to the previous three years. The enhanced use of social media, which will also include the use of other platforms such as Facebook, is part of a broadening response from police to counter Isis as it seeks to radicalise individuals via online propaganda as well as infiltrating fighters who have seen action in Syria and Iraq back into northern Europe, as happened in Paris last November.
Around half led to a charge. Last year just over three-quarters (77 per cent) of those arrested were British nationals, 14 per cent were female and 13 per cent were aged 20 and under. Mr Rowley, who is the national head of counter-terrorism policing, said the “shared effort to look for any possible links of those networks or other networks that have reached the UK is obviously a massively high priority”. 
The number of girls and women and the number of teenagers is a new trend, Mr Rowley said. According to Yard figures, the number of counter-terrorism arrests has risen by 57 per cent in the last three years compared to the previous three years, with around half leading to suspects being charged.
"That would not have been the picture that one would have seen a few years ago. That is an indication of that radicalisation, the effect of the propaganda and the way the messages of Daesh [Isis] are resonating with some individuals," he added. More than three quarters (77 per cent) of those detained were British nationals while 14 per cent were female and 13 per cent were aged 20 or under.
Scotland Yard has seen more than 20 families and around 50 young people go through family court proceedings over concerns about radicalisation in the past year. Mr Rowley revealed that counter-terrorism officers are also increasingly using psychologists on their teams for advice on how to deal with extremists who may suffer from mental health problems.
Police are beginning to use trained psychologists who can provide advice both about how to deal with those at risk of being influenced by extremists, as well as terrorists in the event of an attack. The Yard has also seen more than 20 families and some 50 young people go through family court proceedings this year in cases linked to concerns about radicalisation.
The number of trained firearms officers across the UK is also being increased in the wake of the Paris atrocities, which saw 129 people killed in co-ordinated attacks by extremists.
Official advice was issued at the end of last year to "Run, Hide, Tell" if marauding gunmen are found to be on the loose - meaning get as far away as possible, hide, and if possible call the police.
Press Association