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London, June 4: At least 7 were killed and 48 injured in the twin terror assault in London. In the subsequent crackdown launched, 12 suspects were rounded up by the Metropolitan police in connection to the extremist assault. The security alert in United Kingdom was raised from ‘severe’ to ‘critical’, which means another terror attack could be imminent. Despite the looming security concerns, Prime Minister Theresa May said the general elections would be conducted as scheduled on Thursday.
“Won’t let terror disrupt our democracy,” May said, further adding that electioneering would resume from Monday. “The campaigning called off today in honour of the victims would be resumed tomorrow,” she said in her official address.
Opposition – Labour party supported May’s stance on conducting the polls as per schedule, claiming that postponing the dates would signal UK’s weakness against the terrorists. “If we allow these attacks to disrupt our democratic process, then we all lose,” said Jeremy Corbyn, the prime challenger to May in upcoming polls. ALSO READ: Gurdwaras in UK offer shelter to London terror attack victims
However, the party condemned the remarks made by May following the terror attack, accusing the Prime Minister of making a political pitch. “I don’t think it’s right to get dragged into plans at this stage so soon after those attacks,” Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry, in reference to May’s claim of adopting a sterner counter-terrorism strategy in the near future.
“Enough is enough. Islamist terrorism needs to be defeated… We will review the counter-terrorism apparatus. If need be, the detention period of suspects could be increased,” May had said, further adding that the government would leave no stone unturned to prevent online radicalisation of Muslim youths.
UK Independence Party (UKIP), the only political outfit which carried out election campaigning on Sunday, slammed both the Tories and Labour for their ‘soft approach’ against terrorism. Calling for a ‘Trump-style’ ban on Muslim immigration, the ultra-conservative party said the upcoming election could be the final chance to “save Great Britain from Islamist terrorism”.
The terror attack in London comes nearly 12 days after the suicide attack in Ariana Grande’s concert in Manchester, which claimed 22 lives. According to May, the two attacks are not related. “But terrorism breeds terrorism,” she added.
“The police and security officials are on high alert. Together, we have to defeat this poisonous ideology, which glorifies violence and maligns Islam,” the Prime Minister said, further adding that security forces have apprehended and foiled strategies of nearly five major terror attacks being planned since March this year.
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