Matt Jukes, the Metropolitan Police’s assistant commissioner and Britain’s highest-ranking counter-terrorism officer, has issued a stark warning about a significant rise in the threat of terrorism following the Gaza conflict. Describing the Israel-Hamas conflict as a “radicalisation moment,” Jukes revealed during a Friday briefing that there has been a staggering 25% increase in intelligence related to potential terrorists. This spike is the highest ever recorded and includes information from online reports, public sources, and MI5.

“In simple terms, that means more intelligence about potential terrorism and violent extremism flowing through our systems than in recent years,” stated Mr. Jukes. He emphasised the interconnectedness of global events with the UK, particularly its diverse city communities, expressing concern over the fear, anxiety, and uncertainty prevalent among UK communities.

Jukes, who has held his role for two years, noted that Islamic extremists have been “energised by this conflict.” He remarked on the current state of the world as “unstable, dangerous, and uncertain,” emphasising the unprecedented speed and scale of global events.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas, which began with a Hamas attack on October 7, resulting in Israel declaring war, has claimed up to 25,000 lives. While peaceful rallies in London have represented both sides of the conflict, Jukes highlighted unrest in the UK. Since the Hamas attack, there have been 33 arrests for terrorism offences, with seven people charged. Notably, 19 arrests are related to protests, 13 to social media content, and one to an alleged physical attack.

Mr. Jukes revealed that the UK’s anti-terrorism hotline experienced a doubling of calls in the two weeks following the initial attack. He expressed concern about the online manifestation of extremism, describing it as unprecedented and contributing to a dangerous climate. Jukes concluded by characterising the current situation as a “radicalization moment.”