Category Security & Risk

Total Recorded Incidents and Fatalities

Period	Number of Incidents	Fatalities	Injuries
1970–2000	5,218	3,447	5,937
2001–2025	1,000+	~100	1,000+

Note: The majority of fatalities between 1970 and 2000 were attributed to the Northern Ireland conflict.(Wikipedia)

---

🕰️ Peak Periods of Terrorist Activity

1970s–1990s: The Troubles

• The conflict in Northern Ireland, known as “The Troubles,” was the predominant source of terrorist activity during this period.
• Key organisations involved included the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA), Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), and Ulster Defence Association (UDA).
• Notable incidents:
  • 1974 Birmingham pub bombings (21 fatalities).
  • 1998 Omagh bombing (29 fatalities), attributed to the Real IRA.(Wikipedia)

2000s–2010s: Rise of Islamist Extremism

• The early 2000s saw a shift towards threats from Islamist extremist groups.
• Significant incidents:
  • 2005 London bombings (7/7): Four coordinated suicide bombings resulting in 52 deaths and over 700 injuries.
  • 2017 Manchester Arena bombing: Suicide attack during a concert, causing 22 deaths and over 800 injuries.
  • 2017 London Bridge attack: Vehicle and knife attack leading to 8 deaths and 48 injuries.(AP News)

2020s: Emergence of Diverse Threats

• Increase in threats from extreme right-wing groups and individuals with mixed or unclear ideologies.
• Notable incidents:
  • 2021 Murder of MP Sir David Amess by an individual with Islamist motivations.
  • 2023 Southport stabbings by Axel Rudakubana, highlighting challenges in identifying ideological motives.(Financial Times)

---

🏴‍☠️ Proscribed Terrorist Organisations

As of June 2025, the UK has proscribed 81 international terrorist groups under the Terrorism Act 2000 and 14 organisations in Northern Ireland under previous legislation. (Research Briefings)

Notable Organisations:

• Islamist Extremist Groups: Al-Qaeda, Islamic State (IS), Hamas.
• Irish Republican Groups: Provisional IRA, Continuity IRA, Real IRA.
• Far-Right Groups: National Action, The Base, Atomwaffen Division.(Wikipedia)

---

📈 Evolution of the Terrorist Threat Landscape (2005–2025)

Post-7/7 Developments

• The 7 July 2005 London bombings marked a significant shift in the UK’s counter-terrorism approach, leading to the implementation of the CONTEST strategy.
• Focus expanded to include not only Islamist threats but also emerging dangers from other ideologies.(Wikipedia)

Rise of Lone-Actor and Mixed-Ideology Threats

• Increase in self-radicalised individuals acting independently, often influenced by online propaganda.
• Growth in cases involving individuals with mixed, unstable, or unclear ideologies, posing challenges for traditional counter-terrorism strategies.(The Guardian, Wikipedia)

Current Threat Assessment

• MI5 indicates that Islamist extremism accounts for approximately 75% of its caseload.
• Extreme right-wing terrorism constitutes about 10% of investigations.
• The remaining cases involve other forms of extremism or individuals without a clear ideological affiliation. (ISD, MI5)

---

🔍 Current Threats and Challenges

Islamist Extremism

• Continues to be the predominant threat, with concerns over returning foreign fighters and online radicalisation.

Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism

• Notable increase in activities and plots, often facilitated through online platforms.

State-Sponsored Threats

• Emerging concerns over espionage and influence operations from hostile states such as Russia and Iran. (The Guardian)

Youth Radicalisation

• Growing number of young individuals being targeted for radicalisation, necessitating enhanced preventive measures.

---

A sustained high volume of attacks during The Troubles (1970s–1990s).

A sharp drop in the early 2000s.

Spikes in 2005 (7/7 bombings) and again during 2016–2019 due to ISIS-inspired activity.

Lower but consistent levels of attacks in the 2020s, reflecting the rise of lone actors and ideological diversity.

---

🧠 Conclusion

Over the past five decades, the UK’s terrorist threat landscape has evolved from region-specific conflicts to a complex array of domestic and international threats. The shift towards self-radicalised individuals and the diversification of extremist ideologies present ongoing challenges for security services. Continuous adaptation and comprehensive strategies are essential to address the multifaceted nature of modern terrorism.

---

Note: This report is based on publicly available information up to July 2025. For the most current threat assessments and guidelines, please refer to official sources such as MI5 and the Home Office.

---

A Physical Security Risk Assessment is a systematic process used to identify, evaluate, and mitigate risks to an organisation’s physical assets, including buildings, equipment, and personnel. The primary aim is to ensure that physical security measures are proportionate to potential threats and vulnerabilities. Here’s an overview of the key steps involved in a PSRA:

1. Threat Assessment: Identify potential threats to the organisation’s physical assets, which could include natural disasters, theft, vandalism, terrorism, or workplace violence.
2. Vulnerability Assessment: Evaluate the organisation’s weaknesses that could be exploited by identified threats. This might involve reviewing access controls, surveillance systems, perimeter security, and employee protocols.
3. Impact Analysis: Determine the potential impact of threats exploiting vulnerabilities. This involves assessing the consequences to the organisation’s operations, safety of personnel, reputational damage and financial losses.
4. Risk Evaluation: Combine the information from the threat, vulnerability, and impact analyses to evaluate the overall risk. This helps in understanding which risks are most significant and require prioritisation.
5. Mitigation Strategies: Develop and implement strategies to mitigate identified risks. This could include enhancing access controls, improving surveillance systems, training employees on security protocols, and conducting regular security drills.
6. Review and Update: Continuously monitor and review the risk assessment to ensure it remains relevant and effective. Changes in the organisation’s environment, operations, or the wider threat landscape should prompt updates to the PSRA.

A PSRA is crucial for safeguarding an organisation’s physical resources and ensuring the safety and security of its operations in the face of various potential threats.

Protective Security refers to the measures and strategies designed to safeguard people, assets, and information from potential threats, harm, or damage. This can include physical security (such as surveillance systems, barriers, and locks), personnel security (background checks, security clearances), information security (protecting sensitive data), and cybersecurity (defending against digital threats). Protective security aims to prevent security incidents and minimise the impact of any breaches that do occur.

Risk refers to the likelihood of a threat materialising and the potential consequences of such an event. It involves understanding vulnerabilities, assessing threats, and considering how these may affect individuals, organisations, or assets. Effective risk management plays a central role in protective security by identifying, evaluating, and prioritising these risks.

Risk mitigation is the process of reducing the potential impact of identified risks by implementing control measures. This can involve strategies such as strengthening security systems, introducing access controls, or developing contingency and incident response plans. The goal of risk mitigation is to lower both the likelihood of a security breach and its potential consequences, ensuring that any risks are managed proactively. Regular risk assessments and updates to mitigation strategies are essential to stay ahead of evolving threats.