UK intelligence agency reduces Northern Ireland terrorism threat level
MI5, the UK’s intelligence and security agency, announced Wednesday a significant reduction in the terrorism threat level for Northern Ireland (NI)-related terrorism, lowering the threat level from “severe” to “substantial.” The reduction indicates that an attack from NI is now considered likely rather than highly likely. This adjustment, announced independently of the Police Service of [...]
Former KGB double agent allowed to sue UK crime agency over identity disclosure
The UK High Court on Friday allowed Boris Karpichkov, a former senior double agent of the KGB and now a British citizen, to pursue legal action against the National Crime Agency (NCA) over the disclosure of his new identity. Karpichkov had worked for the KGB in the Soviet Union before being recruited to operate in Latvia [...]
Public inquiry concludes Britain security services could have prevented 2017 Manchester Arena attack
The Manchester Arena Inquiry Thursday published the third and final volume of its report into the suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in May 2017, revealing that MI5, Britain’s security services, missed an opportunity to take actions which may have prevented the attack. Retired High Court Judge Sir John Saunders chaired the [...]
The UK Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) has found secret surveillance to be incompatible with European Union (EU) law. Privacy International (PI) challenged the UK bulk communications regime, specifically section 94 of the Telecommunications Act, which has since been repealed by the Investigatory Powers Act, for being incompatible with EU human rights standards. This judgement renders [...]
The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales convicted Sahayb Abu on Friday for attempting to carry out a terrorist attack after he created pro-Islamic state music videos and purchased weaponry online. The police first began investigating Abu last March when his “extremist mindset” drew their attention. Throughout the next few months, Abu “purchased a [...]
The High Court of Justice dismissed a civil claim Wednesday brought by Rangzieb Ahmed against MI5, MI6, the Foreign Office, the Home Office, the Attorney General and Greater Manchester Police. Ahmed, who was convicted of a series of terror offences in 2008, issued proceedings against the defendants in 2009, claiming damages for false imprisonment, assault, battery, [...]
UK Supreme Court rules intelligence activities subject to judicial review
The UK Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that decisions by the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) are subject to judicial review. Prior to the ruling, IPT decisions could only be appealed to the European Court of Human Rights. The IPT was established in 2000 to provide an avenue for redress for anyone who feels that they have [...]
Will the Last UK Resident Be Released from Guantanamo Next Month?
JURIST guest columnist Peter Jan Honigsberg from the University of San Francisco School of Law discusses possible release of detainees from Guantanamo Bay...On April 24, JURIST reported that Shaker Aamer, a citizen of Saudi Arabia (SA) and a British resident...
A US government source on Friday revealed that Shaker Aamer , a Saudi citizen Saudi citizen and former UK resident detained at Guantanamo Bay , is expected to be released in June after recent...
Lawyers for Shaker Aamer , a Saudi citizen and former UK resident detained at Guantanamo Bay , asked a federal judge on Monday to release him on the grounds that he is...
