British Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) has disrupted an alleged far-right terror plot targeting one of the United Kingdom’s largest annual Muslim gatherings, resulting in 12 arrests and forcing the early closure of the event that drew 15,000 attendees. The gathering, known as the UK Ijtima, is hosted annually by the Tablighi Jamaat movement at Shrubland Hall, attracting worshippers from across Britain and international visitors alike. Scheduled to run from July 9 to 13, the event was wrapped up days early after counter-terrorism officers detected what they categorized as a credible, potentially catastrophic threat to attendees.
In an official statement, Commander Helen Flanagan, head of CTP London, confirmed that 11 men and one woman were taken into custody across multiple regions of England, including the South East, East of England, and Greater Manchester. Flanagan explicitly tied the ongoing investigation to right-wing extremism, noting that law enforcement teams are currently executing search warrants at multiple locations connected to the suspects across the country. Eight of the arrested men are being held under Section 41 of the 2000 Terrorism Act and remain in police custody as questioning continues. Among the detainees are three men aged 81, 60, and 55, who face suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder, one of the most severe charges connected to the alleged plot.
CTP has not released additional public details about the specific nature of the planned attack, but officials have repeatedly emphasized that the threat was classified as serious. UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood praised the rapid, proactive work of counter-terrorism officers, saying their timely intervention “undoubtedly” prevented mass loss of life at the gathering. Acknowledging the fear and uncertainty the incident has sparked among British Muslim communities across the country, Mahmood called for national unity in the face of extremist hatred. “We must stand against hatred and we must unite around our shared belief in a country that is open, generous and tolerant to all our communities,” she said.