Report: Majority of UK Terror Offenders Serve Less Than Three and a Half Years

LONDON, July 7, 2011 -

“Remarkable publication … a vital resource worldwide.”

Lord Carlile QC, former independent
reviewer of terrorism legislation

Islamist Terrorism: The British Connections, by
The Henry Jackson Society, presents the most comprehensive ever
overview of the UK‘s links to Islamism-inspired
terrorism worldwide.

This new edition profiles 138 Islamism-inspired terrorist
convictions and attacks in the UK between 1999 and 2010, and proves
how great a threat violent Islamism poses to the world - and
Britain’s place at the centre of this struggle.

Executive summary: href="goo.gl/8u5QJ">goo.gl/8u5QJ

KEY TRENDS

Over a third of offenders posed
imminent threat

• 36% of offences committed by active participants - those who
  committed or were imminently about to commit acts of terrorism
• 36% by facilitators and ideologues - those who prepared for
  terrorism, operationally, by fundraising, or incitement
• 19% by aspirants - those who demonstrated an interest in
  terrorism but who didn’t pose an imminent threat
• 9% by supporters - convicted for assisting the active
  participants

54% of offenders serve less than three
and a half years

• 35% received between 1 - 4 years and 19% 5 - 9 years
• Due to average time spent on remand, those sentenced to 1 - 4
  years will serve no more than one year four months and those given
  5 - 9 years no more than 3.5 years after conviction
• 20% received life sentences or indefinite detention - the
  majority for murder or explosives offences

Clear rise in offences between 2005
and 2007

• 64% of offences were committed during this period
• There have been eight major bomb plots resulting in convictions
  or attack

The UK faces a ‘home-grown‘
threat and London remains a focal point

1. 69% of offences committed by British nationals
2. 50% by individuals of South-central Asian ancestry
3. 28% by either British Pakistanis or Pakistani born
   individuals
4. 46% by individuals living in London

Majority of terrorists had no links to
proscribed organisations

• 34% had links to a proscribed organisation
• Al-Muhajiroun was connected to 18% of individuals and al-Qaeda
  13%
• 7/8 major cells had al-Qaeda links

Majority of terrorists didn‘t attended
terrorist training camps

• 28% had attended training camps, most commonly in Pakistan

Little correlation between terrorist
activity, education and employment

• 42% of offences committed by individuals in employment or
  full-time education
• 30% had at some point attended university or a higher education
  institute

Contact: - Michael Weiss, tel no. +44-(0)20-7340-4520 / +44-(0)7766-641-670, email michael.weiss at henryjacksonsociety.org