Britain announces record number of terror arrests

British police made a record 299 terror arrests over the last 12 months, overtaking the previous highest level in the year of the London bombings in 2005, Home Office figures show.

In the year to March, 299 people were detained for terrorism-related offenses, an increase of 31 percent on the previous year.

It is the highest number since data collection began in September 2001.

The previous record was 284, set in 2005 — when four suicide bombers struck London’s transport system on July 7 in coordinated attacks that killed 52 people.

The Home Office says there has been a “marked increase” in arrests of people with British or dual nationality since 2011. This coincides with the start of the Syrian civil war and the rise of Islamic State.

— AFP

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