Reported by Al Jazeera and Reuters journalists.

The arrests underscore ongoing concerns over far-right extremism in the UK.

Published On 13 Jul 202613 Jul 2026

British police have arrested 12 people in connection with an “extreme right-wing” terrorism threat targeting an Islamic gathering held in eastern England over the weekend.

Detainees, ranging in age from 27 to 82, were taken into custody across the nation over Sunday and Monday. Among the 12 suspects, 11 are men and one is a woman.

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“After becoming aware of a potential serious threat towards the Islamic event in Suffolk, we have moved extremely quickly to make a number of arrests in various locations across the country,” Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London said.

The Ijtima festival was attended by around 15,000 people. The event concluded earlier than planned on the advice of the police, who were tipped off about a potential threat.

Of the eleven male suspects, eight were held on terrorism charges, while the other three face allegations of conspiracy to murder. The female suspect was arrested for allegedly assisting an offender. As of this report, none have been formally charged.

Police said there was no evidence to suggest a wider threat to the public, noting that several addresses across the UK were still being searched as the investigation continued.

The arrests came against a backdrop of rising racial tension and hate crimes in the UK, with marginalised communities increasingly targeted.

Fanned by populist far-right political parties such as Reform, the intolerance follows on from a series of riots two years ago.

In January, the UK’s public prosecution agency, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said it was handling the highest number of hate crime cases referred by police in its history.

More than 4,350 cases were referred to the CPS between July and September last year, a 14.7 percent increase compared with the previous quarter.

Responding to the arrests, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said police had “undoubtedly saved lives”.

“Twelve individuals have now been arrested. I know this is deeply concerning news for British Muslims. 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.

The Ijtima festival, attended by approximately 15,000 people, was shortened on police advice after a credible threat emerged. This crackdown comes amid a broader rise in racial tension and hate crimes, fueled by far-right groups such as Reform, which has capitalized on unrest following riots two years ago.