You may have read in the papers this week that a group of young jihadists are plotting to carry out terror attacks in Brighton and Hove. These reports were from tabloids The Mirror, The Express and The Daily Star who reported that 28 radicalised young people from Brighton had plotted to go to Syria. It was then feared that these radicalised youths would return to carry out terror attacks in Brighton and Hove. However, these reports have already been dismissed by Sussex Police and Brighton and Hove City Council.
Pinaki Ghoshal and Nev Kemp from Brighton and Hove City Council and Superintendent respectively released a joint statement saying “We have no reason to believe that the situation in Brighton is any different to the situation in other cities across the UK. We would like to make it clear that there are not ’28 city jihadists intent on terror’ in Brighton and Hove as has recently been claimed in the media. Approximately 18 months ago we had concerns relating to a number of young people in the city who we considered to be at risk of exploitation. This followed the widely reported departure of five young people from the city to Syria. The young people were not working together as a ‘gang’ as stated in some press coverage. They were individuals who were not all known to each other. We wanted to ensure they were kept safe. Our concerns were not solely about radicalisation. They were as much about their vulnerability to criminal activity and in some cases sexual exploitation…this work has been very successful and as a result we do not consider these young people to be at risk of radicalisation. None of them have gone to Syria.”
They also praised the ‘positive role’ the local Muslim community has played in combating radicalisation. So there we go, we have nothing to worry about, or no more than any other town or city in the UK. Scaremongering won’t work on us Brightonians.
Holly Martin
feature image: Valcker under the creative commons license
