Plot to assassinate May

Details have emerged that MI5 has effectively thwarted an alleged plot to assassinate British Prime Minister Theresa May by terrorists.

Background

Theresa Mary May is a British politician who is currently the British Prime Minister. She is also the leader of the Conservative Party since 2016. May’s ascent to the top position in British politics was kickstarted by the Brexit vote. Then British Prime Minister David Cameron stepped down in 2016 after Britain narrowly voted in favor of Brexit. He had been an open advocate against leaving the European Union. Thus, his six year tenure as the Prime Minister of Britain came to an end. After his resignation, Theresa May, won an unchallenged leadership election in July 2016. May has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Maidenhead since 1997.

In an unexpected move, British Prime Minister Theresa May called for general elections on June 8th, 2017. At the time, she noted that she wanted a stronger mandate to govern UK and additionally push for Brexit. However, the election resulted in the Conservative Party losing its majority. May had to strike a deal Northern Ireland party the Democratic Unionists to form a minority government. At the time, there were calls for her to step down.

The Conservative Party was founded in 1834 by Robert Peel. It is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom.

The Security Service, also MI5 (Military Intelligence, Section 5) is the United Kingdom's domestic counter-intelligence and security agency. It is part of UK’s intelligence machinery alongside the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) and Defence Intelligence (DI). MI5 is directed by the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC), and the service is bound by the Security Service Act 1989. The service is directed to protect British parliamentary democracy and economic interests, and counter terrorism and espionage within the UK.

Analysis

Details have emerged that MI5 has effectively thwarted an alleged plot to assassinate British Prime Minister Theresa May by terrorists. After a joint operation which was spearheaded by the MI5, two men were arrested in connection to this plot last week. This is among a series of terror attacks that have taken place in Britain in 2017.

Security officials believe the alleged Islamist plot is the ninth to have been thwarted since March this year. Sky's Crime Correspondent Martin Brunt said: "It's the latest in a number of terror plots that police and MI5 believe they've foiled this year. I understand that the head of MI5, Andrew Parker, briefed Cabinet ministers today (Tuesday), such is the seriousness of what they believed they have uncovered.”

The Metropolitan police said they had been charged “with the intention of committing acts of terrorism” and they with “engaging in conduct in preparation for giving effect to that intention”.

Reports have stated that Naa’imur Zakariyah Rahman, 20, and Mohammed Aqib Imran, 21, planned on blowing up security barriers outside May’s Downing Street office and then stab the British leader to death.

Theresa May is currently in the midst of negotiations regarding Brexit with leaders of EU.

Assessment

Our assessment is that the alleged plot to assassinate Theresa May indicates a worrying trend of increased acts of terrorism occurring in Britain. In 2017 along, there were five separate terror attacks in the region and 36 people lost their lives in attacks that happened in London and Manchester.