and also individuals suggesting that they could even use Covid as a bioweapon against minority communities.[1]
Nick Lowles, Chief Executive of Hope Not Hate, warned that the financial consequences of Covid-19 also posed a risk:
I think the other factor is the kind of economic consequences of Covid, which, you know, we've only in a way started to kind of experience, we don't know how that's going to play out, but obviously economic stress adds to the equation as well and I think in the sense of, you know, economic stress in itself isn't going to drive people to terrorism, but it creates a bigger pool. If people are angry, resentful, feeling that their world's even further away, you know, they're more open to alternative ideas.[2]
54. MI5 reports that it *** in Covid-19-related conspiracy theories.[3] These are notably prolific among Right-Wing Extremist and terrorist communities:
Although these conspiracy theories vary, common themes include anti-government narratives and blaming certain groups for creating and/or spreading the virus.[4]
Interest in *** Covid-19 is likely to continue among terrorists from across the ideological spectrum. However, we question whether highly sophisticated methodologies (e.g. modifying the virus) are beyond the capability of UK attack planners.
55. In October 2020, JTAC assessed that it was a "realistic possibility" that the Covid-19 pandemic would increase the risk of terrorism over the next six months; and that several factors, such as economic recession and a lack of socio-economic security, terrorist engagement with wider community grievances around the effects of the pandemic, and global instability, were all possible drivers for this.[5] In November 2020, the JTAC 'Future Outlook' assessment surmised:
- It is likely that future [Covid-19] national and local lockdowns will be incorporated into ERWT narratives. Additionally there is a realistic possibility that the wider social, political and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic will directly increase the threat from ERWT over the next 12 months.
- It is highly likely that RW terrorists will continue to interpret events within their particular ideological framework. Future events, such as ***, could galvanise a RW terrorist into action.[6]
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