Queen Elizabeth II's death sparks 800 reports of suspicious activity to terror police

Queen Elizabeth II's death sparks 800 reports of suspicious activity to terror police
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Paige Creaney

By Paige Creaney


Published: 21/09/2022

- 13:27

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:38

Counter-terrorism police received more than 800 reports of possible suspicious activity during the security operation following Queen Elizabeth II's death.

Matt Jukes, head of Britain's counter-terrorism police, said one in eight reports are being used by investigators as intelligence.

The mammoth policing operation, called Operation London Bridge, also saw 40 drone flights detected across London, with four people now facing prosecution for related offences.


Crowds watch as the State Gun Carriage carries the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in the Ceremonial Procession following her State Funeral at Westminster Abbey, London. Picture date: Monday September 19, 2022.
Crowds gather in London for Queen Elizabeth II's funeral
David Davies

Police and security services reviewed all counter-terrorism investigations in the days after the Queen died to identify any new risks, as well as assessing new information.

Mr Jukes said: “Reviewing current investigations and monitoring new intelligence has been absolutely vital in keeping the public safe over the last 10 days.

“By doing so, we have been able to take steps to ensure developing risk around places or people of interest has been responded to robustly.

“Communities across the country have played a crucial role.

“Every piece of information we receive has the potential to transform an investigation, create opportunity for an arrest or simply helps us build a clearer intelligence picture around someone, or something.

“After initial assessment, one in eight of the reports we’ve received over the mourning period are now actively being used as intelligence by our investigators.

“You are never wasting our time.”

The UK’s terror threat level is set at “substantial”, meaning an attack is “likely”.

The huge policing and security operation after the death of the Queen saw the biggest ever deployment of armed officers from across the UK, protecting crowds paying their respects as well as the hundreds of foreign dignitaries who attended the funeral.

Armed police officers on patrol near to a police screening area on the Long Walk in Windsor for members of the public to queue in a one-way system to access Windsor Castle where they can pay their respects following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Picture date: Sunday September 18, 2022.
Armed officers protect crowds as they pay their respects
Ben Birchall

Mr Jukes added: “It is difficult to put into words the scale of the policing operation over the last 10 days, it has been nothing short of incredible.”

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