Terror groups 'exploiting coronavirus pandemic to radicalise new recruits', QC warns

Lord Carlile of Berriew said extremists groups are trying to “use the Covid-19 global crisis to their advantage”
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Terrorist groups are using the pandemic lockdown to gather and radicalise new recruits by blaming coronavirus on the “wrath of God”, a top QC has warned.

Lord Carlile of Berriew said extremists groups are trying to “use the Covid-19 global crisis to their advantage”, particularly targeting vulnerable people who have been isolated by the lockdown and social distancing rules.

He said ISIS and Al Qaeda propaganda is claiming the virus is a “divine punishment” from God, while far right groups are latching on to conspiracy theories around the pandemic to boost followers.

Lord Carlile, who spent a decade as the UK’s independent reviewer of terrorist legislation, warned governments would be “negligent to lower their guard against terrorism” during the current crisis.

“Terrorist groups are making efforts to use the Covid-19 global crisis to their advantage”, he said, delivering the annual Barnard’s Inn Reading Lecture.

“They are determined to try and capitalise on the new geopolitical realities.

“They believe that key national and international institutions will be distracted by the crisis at home, that counter-terrorism, security, and military budgets will be reduced as a result of the economic consequences of the pandemic, that instability in conflict zones will continue with increasing numbers of refugees, and that unemployment and economic hardships will impact increasing numbers of potentially vulnerable people across the world.

“In addition, the lockdowns imposed in many countries may have helped terrorist groups to recruit and radicalise new individuals.”

Lord Carlile said terrorist attacks around the world have increased in the last few months, and studies suggest there has been a surge in interest in far-right propaganda which targets minority groups.

“Far right is using the pandemic to advance its movement and ideology”, he said.

The experienced barrister said Islamic extremist groups “define Covid-19 as a result of God’s wrath, calling for Western countries to turn to Islam in response”, while ISIS recently put a call for attacks while countries are “weakened” and their public services stretched.

Lord Carlile made his comments as he warned of the weaknesses of the UK's Prevent programme when trying to tackle extremism behind bars, and called for the re-introduction of terrorism control orders.

He insisted the Prevent system is effective in the community, called for new laws designed to protect the public from extremists when they are released from prison, and joined demands for the parole board hearings of terrorists to be made public.

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