Islamic terror attacks are being ‘exploited’ by hostile states Suella Braverman warns 

Russia and other hostile states such as China and Iran are using Islamic terror attacks as opportunities to foment hate and division in Britain, Home Secretary Suella Braverman will warn this week.

In a speech to relaunch the Government’s flagship Counter-Terrorism Strategy, Contest, Mrs Braverman is expected to say: ‘Terrorist narratives are exploited by hostile actors such as Russia, which is seeking to promote divisive and polarising narratives in the West.’

The Contest review, which will be launched on Tuesday, is likely to say that Islamist terrorism remains the biggest national security threat in the UK, and still forms three-quarters of the caseload of MI5.

But the rise of state threats from the likes of Russia, China and Iran, are also likely to be mentioned in the review. 

In her speech, Mrs Braverman will highlight Government research that has shown Russian-linked social media accounts being used after recent terror attacks on British soil, such as the Manchester Arena and the London Bridge atrocities, in order to spread ‘divisive, Far-Right messaging’ in the immediate aftermath.

Their aim was to heighten tensions between Muslim and other communities.

Mrs Braverman is likely to add that states such as Russia and Iran are increasingly resorting to using sinister online campaigns to sow division in the UK.

A Government source said: ‘It’s about how the fragmentation of Islamic State and Al Qaeda is now posing a very different threat to our people, while state actors like Russia and Iran will increasingly try to capitalise on terrorism here in the UK.

‘We can’t be complacent – the terrorists are morphing and we have to keep our vigilance up.’