Twelve individuals were arrested across England in early July on suspicion of a right-wing terror threat against an Islamic festival, but all terror-related charges were subsequently dropped. The arrests followed an operation by the British Security Project (BSP), a fledgling right-wing group that used a drone to monitor the annual Tablighi Jamaat gathering, an event attended by approximately 15,000 Muslims at Shrubland Hall in Suffolk.
Counter Terrorism Policing arrested 12 people between July 12 and July 13. Initial reports, widely disseminated by news outlets and echoed by government officials, indicated a serious threat. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated in the House of Commons that officers had "undoubtedly saved lives" and that there was a "credible extreme Right-wing terrorism-related threat to the lives of those present." Then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other Labour figures also emphasized the averted danger and condemned anti-Muslim hatred.
However, by July 18, Commander Helen Flanagan of Counter Terrorism Policing London announced that extensive inquiries had found "no evidence... linked to the alleged threat." The festival, which had been closed early as a precaution, resumed and concluded without incident. The BSP stated that the accusations against its volunteers, including conspiracy to commit terrorism, conspiracy to murder, and threats to kill, were wrongful and have raised questions about legal protections and accountability. The group is reportedly considering legal action, asserting that "a public accusation can travel faster than a correction."
One individual arrested, Darren Brown, received a six-month suspended sentence for weapons offenses after being found with a stun gun and baton in his vehicle and at his home. However, this was separate from the terror charges against the BSP members.
The episode has drawn comparisons to the investigation into the murder of former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, which occurred around the same time. Widdecombe was found dead in her home on July 9, and while initial police statements suggested the murder was not politically motivated, terror police were later involved in the arrest of a suspect, who has since been charged with murder. Critics have questioned the government's swiftness in labeling the BSP incident as terrorism while urging the public not to speculate on Widdecombe's death, particularly concerning potential political or terror motives.
The British Security Project describes itself as a professional security firm focused on enhancing public safety amid concerns about domestic terrorism, and as a Christian and Catholic group aiming to safeguard religious sites. The group has previously supported petitions and organized protests against anti-migrant sentiment.
Tablighi Jamaat, the organization whose festival was monitored, is a global Islamic sect founded in India in 1926. While welcome in Britain, the movement has been banned in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, where it has been deemed a danger to society or a threat to secularism. Reports indicate that a perpetrator of the 2005 London bombings had attended a mosque associated with Tablighi Jamaat's European headquarters.