Dr Jessica White

Rather than a strategy for future protection, it returns to already disproven assumptions and methods that have characterised poor counterterrorism outcomes for almost three decades.

There is a political will to demonstrate strength [following an attack]. [In the UK after 2007] There was the terrorism law and the Prevent program aimed at preventing radicalisation and recruitment, and at giving the authorities more power."

Antifa is not what I would call an identifiable group or organisation [but] a movement, perhaps...On the basis of that lack of clear definition, I think it’s very challenging, if not counterproductive, to try and designate it,” she added. The security services, she said, would see “the least amount of value” in such a designation, as “usually what I’ve seen is that it is much easier to reach a verdict and a prosecution based upon focusing on the actual acts of violence...I think there’s probably a very justified sense of fear around how it could be used in a politically motivated way to target people that are seen as opponents to a more rightwing political government.”