F. Without an agreed understanding of the links between Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism and the developmental disorders Asperger’s and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it is difficult to see how this problem can be tackled effectively. It is imperative that more is done to establish a cohesive and joined-up effort across the agencies, organisations and medical professionals involved in this area.
Drugs
87. A number of commentators have pointed to a correlation between drug abuse and terrorist activity. When we asked MI5 about this issue with specific reference to ERWT, MI5 observed that there was evidence of drug use by subjects of interest across both ERWT and Islamist terrorists—and sometimes that drug use might provide an alternative route to prosecution, as might other forms of low-level crime—but the Director General said:
I think our casework over the years would not support such a strong version of that conclusion. ***.[1]
- ↑ Oral evidence – MI5, 29 April 2021.
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