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NEWS
Tom Tugendhat retains minister for security position in Sunak’s government French cement company pleads guilty in US to aiding terrorists
Tom Tugendhat remains in his position as security minister in the Home Office, in new PM Rishi Sunak’s government.
Tugendhat was previously appointed to the role by Liz Truss.
He also reached the final five in the leadership race to replace Boris Johnson and has been chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee since 2017.
Tugendhat is a former Territorial Army officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and was critical of the withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Suella Braverman has also been reappointed as home secretary less than a week after her resignation following a data breach. In her resignation letter she said: “I have made a mistake; I accept responsibility; I resign.”
Ben Wallace also retains his role as defence secretary, a position which he has held since 2019. Wallace previously served in the Army in Germany, Cyprus, Belize and Northern Ireland. Lafarge, a French cement maker, has pleaded guilty in America to supporting Islamic State and other terror groups.
The company will pay a $777.8m (£687.2m) penalty for making payments to keep a factory running in Syria after the war broke out in 2011.
This is the first time a company has pleaded guilty to aiding terrorists in the US.
Lafarge opened a plant in Jalabiya near the Turkish border in 2010. In 2011, they paid Islamic State and al Nusra Front to protect staff at the plant during the war.
Prosecutors said the company paid the equivalent of $5.92 million. The plant was evacuated in 2014, when Islamic State took control of the factory and the town. According to prosecutors, the deals helped the company make $70.3 million in sales.
US Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said on Tuesday that the company’s actions “reflect corporate crime that has reached a new low and a very dark place.”
“Business with terrorists cannot be business as usual.”
According to reports, Lafarge executives tried to make sure Islamic State did not use the name Lafarge on documents and personal emails were used instead of corporate ones.
Documents were also backdated to imply that negotiations with Islamic State had taken place before a UN resolution calling on member states to prohibit doing business with Islamic State.
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QUEEN’S DEATH
Counter Terrorism Policing thanks public for support during Operation London Bridge
Matt Jukes, head of Counter Terrorism Policing has thanked the public for their support following the death of Her Majesty the Queen and the events that followed. Operation London Bridge resulted in unprecedented policing activity, with Counter Terrorism Policing at the centre of it, providing protective security and monitoring the terrorist threat. The period saw the largest ever single deployment of specialist armed officers from across the UK, as well as the largest ever deployment of Hostile Vehicle Mitigation assets. During the mourning period following the Queen’s death, reports from the public about suspicious activity to Counter Terrorism Policing were double average reporting levels. Jukes said: “It is difficult to put into words the scale of the policing operation over the last ten days, it has been nothing short of incredible. “Some of our activity will have brought our officers and the public shoulder to shoulder, other elements they won’t have seen, but hopefully they have been reassured by what they have witnessed.” . TERRORISM TRIALS
Teenager becomes first person in US to be convicted of terrorism charges for a school shooting
Ethan Crumbley has pleaded guilty to 24 charges including terrorism, murder, attempted murder and weapons violations, following a shooting at a high school in Michigan last year that killed four students.
Seven others were injured in the shooting in November.
He is the first person in the US to be convicted of terrorism on state charges in the circumstances of a school shooting.
His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley are also facing charges of involuntary manslaughter.
During the hearing, Ethan Crumbley said that he had asked his father to buy the gun for him. It had previously been described as an early Christmas present, but Ethan Crumbley claimed that he had given his father money for the gun, which was purchased four days before the shooting.
Crumbley admitted murdering Tate Myre, 16; Justin Shilling, 17; Madisyn Baldwin, 17; and Hana St. Juliana, 14, and injuring six other students and a teacher.
His parents were not in court, they are being held in Oakland County Jail.
During the hearing, it was revealed that he brought the gun and 50 rounds of ammunition into the school in his backpack. At around lunchtime, he loaded the gun in a restroom.
Sentencing will take place next year.
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The Home Office has published guidance on Prevent Duty training.
This includes training courses on the Prevent Duty, the threat from terrorism and extremism in the UK and how to support people vulnerable to radicalisation.
The training courses include learning on the Prevent Duty, different forms of extremism and terrorism, the risk around radicalisation and your supportive role, making a Prevent referral that is informed and made with good intention and the interventions and support available.
The training courses are aimed at staff working in sectors covered by the Prevent Duty, including education, health, local authorities, police, prisons, probation and youth justice - though others are also able to take the training.
Learners should refer to their organisation’s training requirements to establish the appropriate courses.
Prevent is part of CONTEST, the government’s overall counterterrorism strategy. Prevent aims to tackle the causes of radicalisation and respond to the ideological challenge of terrorism, safeguard and support those most at risk of radicalisation through early intervention and enable those who have already engaged in terrorism to disengage and rehabilitate.
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BALI BOMBING
Ceremony marks 20th anniversary of Bali bombing
A ceremony has been held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombing, which happened on 12 October 2002.
Survivors and families and friends of the victims laid wreaths to mark the occasion. 202 people were killed when a car bomb exploded outside the Sari Club in the Kuta Beach area, alongside another attack at the Paddy’s Bar across the road.
The ceremony included peace prayers and the release of 20 birds.
Memorials also took place in Australia, where 88 of the victims came from. Prime minister Anthony Albanese said: “What they struck they could not defeat because what they struck at was the idea of us, the great fabric of dreams and ideals and compassion and fairness that make us who we are as Australians.”
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EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Emergency services have held an exercise at Sheffield Arena to test their response to a large-scale emergency.
Those taking part in the exercise included South Yorkshire Police, the fire service, paramedics and Counter Terrorism Police.
Assistant Chief Constable David Hartley said: “We regularly test our plans for responding to a major incident or large scale emergency. This allows us to ensure we are as prepared as possible should such an incident occur.
“We have also been able to invite some national specialist resources along so they can test their plans to the different threats we may face. We take these exercises very seriously as this is as close as we can get to real life experience. They take months of planning and the support of more than 300 volunteers on this occasion, along with those working within the emergency services.
“The element of surprise for those involved is essential as it helps test their knowledge, training and experience so we can work out areas which we might need to improve. The learning which comes from such an exercise is shared across policing and our partner agencies with a view to continuous improvement of our approach.
“I know those in the area or passing through may be concerned about some of the noises they hear or the increased presence of emergency services so I’m keen to reassure everyone that this is a pre-planned exercise. It is not in response to any specific threat and the UK terrorism threat level remains at substantial which means an attack is likely.”
Detective Superintendent Matt Davison, Regional Counter Terrorism Policing Lead for Protect and Prepare, added: “The threat from terrorism unfortunately remains very real. Whilst we work around the clock to deter, detect and disrupt terrorist activity, it is also vital that we continually develop our emergency response.
“Exercises such as this at Sheffield Arena are absolutely essential in helping us test our tactics and methods and to prepare officers and staff for the realities of major incidents that could happen in our communities. Today, specialist counter terrorism resources have worked alongside South Yorkshire Police, as well as other local agencies and organisations. “By testing the full spectrum of the emergency response, there is greater opportunity for learning and ultimately improvement. This type of exercising - often with our blue light partners, local and national government - happens regularly, not just in South Yorkshire, but right across the UK.”
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New teacher resources tackle subject of radicalisation
A series of free educational activities and lessons for schools and youth centres designed to raise awareness of extremism, spark discussion, and promote critical thinking in young people, has been launched by Counter Terrorism Policing and charity LGfL - The National Grid for Learning.
LGfL’s Act Early Stories complement CTP’s ACTEarly campaign launched after worrying trends showed that record numbers of young people began showing up in their casework, indicating a clear need for teachers, parents, friends and family to do more to protect the young people in their care from extremism.
Based on three real-life stories of young people whose lives have been affected by radicalisation, the Act Early Stories resource includes powerful videos, ready to use session slides and guidance notes so that they can be used by experienced practitioners as well as those who may not have much knowledge of the issues raised.
The aim is to empower teachers and other practitioners to speak to young people about extremism in different educational settings.
Session One features Micheal, who lost his older brother to religious extremism after he joined a terrorist group. It explores vulnerability and encourages young people to recognise how extremists exploit issues around identity for their own agenda, through group-led discussion and reflection.
Session Two focuses on John, who was radicalised by the extreme right wing and includes a letter to his younger self. Students are encouraged to unpick the building blocks of extremism, to recognise the consequences of not challenging extremist behaviour and where to seek support and help.
Session Three features a dramabased video and literacy activity about the indicators of exploitation, to help students understand peer pressure and the grooming process. This provokes discussions around what extreme views are, the implications these can have, why some people are more likely to be influenced than others, why it may not always be easy to leave and how to seek support.
Commenting on the partnership and new resources, Mubina Asaria, Online Safeguarding Consultant, DigiSafe Team, LGfL - The National Grid for Learning, said, “Steering young people away from extremism is all about safeguarding. As educators we are all aware of the dangers that young people face from the online space in which they spend so much of their lives. The growth of extremist content online is touching more and more of our students’ lives, and we can all play an important role in helping them build some resilience to the dangerous narratives they may come across.
“Our simple, ready to use resources will help you tackle these difficult issues head-on, and will give your pupils the skills and confidence to make decisions which will protect them from potential harm.”
Superintendent Heather Wilson, Deputy National Coordinator for Prevent at Counter Terrorism Policing said, “Teachers, youth workers, and educational practitioners are absolutely vital when it comes to speaking to young people about radicalisation, and through this fantastic partnership we hope they will feel empowered to tackle these difficult conversations in the classroom.
“At Counter Terrorism Policing we are, sadly, continuing to see growing numbers of children and young people featuring in our casework - which makes innovative projects like this even more important.
“By sharing the stories of those directly affected by radicalisation we hope that young people learn that this can happen to anyone, and that there is help out there for people who need it.
“Working with partners such as LGfLThe National Grid for Learning creates opportunities to reach audiences who are most at risk, and hopefully helps us change lives for the better.”
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CYBER SECURITY
UK to open cyber security centre
Defence secretary Ben Wallace has announced a £50 million centre to support the training of cyber experts domestically and internationally.
The news came as British and American defence chiefs attended the Atlantic Future Forum in New York. The forum aims to advance defence, security, trading and economic partnerships between the UK and US and look into boosting innovation, economic growth and resilience.
The Defence Cyber Academy will develop sovereign and international courses and develop the national cyber profession. The Academy will train defence personnel in cyber technology, strategy and operational preparedness.
As part of the National Cyber Strategy, the Academy will support the development of the national cyber profession. The Academy will increase the scope and volume of training and education and collaborate with global allies to adopt best-practice and provide international products and services.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Defence co-operation between the United Kingdom and the United States is the broadest and deepest of any two countries in the world, and will continue to expand in the coming decades.
“The Defence Cyber Academy builds on that collaboration, defining closer integration and shared capability, helping us and our allies counter global cyber security threats, staying one step ahead and at the forefront of this cutting-edge military domain.”
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THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE: INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2021
