UK: Counter-Terrorism Unit Listed Extinction Rebellion as Extremist Group
An English regional counter-terrorism policing unit listed Extinction Rebellion in an anti-extremism guidance note that includes Islamist and far-right terror organisations. Authorities said they would recall the document after inquiries from the left-liberal Guardian newspaper.
The Guardian has revealed that Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) had included Extinction Rebellion in a 12-page booklet entitled Safeguarding Young People and Adults from Ideological Extremism.
The Guardian has revealed that Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) had included Extinction Rebellion in a 12-page booklet entitled Safeguarding Young People and Adults from Ideological Extremism.
The document was aimed at teachers and police when on the lookout for signs of radicalization in young people in the referral process for Prevent, the government’s programme that intervenes primarily with youths at risk of extremism or committing acts of terror.
Other groups and ideologies listed in the document include the banned far-right National Action, extreme Satanism, the proscribed Islamist group Al-Muhajiroun, and animal rights extremism. The newspaper reports that national counter-terrorism officials said that the document was produced at a local level and believe that Extinction Rebellion’s inclusion was a mistake.
On Extinction Rebellion, the document advises authorities to be on the look-out for “propaganda materials” and the group’s logo. The CTPSE also advises being aware of young people discussing “NVDA” (non-violent direct action) and pupils who “neglect to attend school” or “participate in planned school walkouts” — a reference to the school climate strikes popularised by climate wunderkind and Extinction Rebellion supporter Greta Thunberg.
The document also advises that signs of extremism include expressing a desire to be arrested or “admiration for those arrested for protest activity” as well as those speaking in “strong or emotive terms about environmental issues like climate change, ecology, species extinction, fracking, airport expansion or pollution”.
On why the regional counter-terrorism unit said that the group should be considered a “threat”, it said: “Anti-establishment philosophy that seeks system change underlies its activism; the group attracts to its events school-age children and adults unlikely to be aware of this. While non-violent against persons, the campaign encourages other law-breaking activities.”
“While concern about climate change is not in itself extreme, activists may encourage vulnerable people to perform acts of violence, or commit such acts themselves,” it added.
Police vs Public: London Commuters Who Stopped Tube Protesters Investigated https://t.co/MMaOxrhg1i— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) October 20, 2019
The Guardian says that after it made “further inquiries”, officials said that the document had now been recalled.
“I would like to make it quite clear that we do not classify Extinction Rebellion as an extremist organisation. The inclusion of Extinction Rebellion in this document was an error of judgment and we will now be reviewing all of the contents as a result,” head of CTPSE DCS Kath Barnes told the left-liberal newspaper.
The Guardian later reported that Extinction Rebellion may sue over their inclusion in the booklet. Amnesty International condemned the police over the document.
Extinction Rebellion Co-Founder Calls Holocaust ‘Just Another F*ckery in Human History’ https://t.co/UY25aHLGj2— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) November 21, 2019
In one example given, authors Richard Wolton, formerly head of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter-Terrorism Command, and Tom Wilson highlighted Extinction Rebellion co-founder Roger Hallam speaking about people dying for their cause. In February, Hallam had said at an Amnesty International event that Extinction Rebellion activists “are not just sending out emails and asking for donations. We are going to force the governments to act, and if they don’t, we’ll bring them down and create a democracy fit for purpose. And yes — some may die in the process.”
Delingpole: Top Terror Cop Says ‘Extinction Rebellion Are Dangerous Extremists. Jail Them!’ https://t.co/TD3qGx70Z7— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) July 18, 2019