Podcast: Roundtable: The UK terror attacks

Between March and June 2017, the UK suffered four separate terrorist attacks in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge and Finsbury Park which killed 36 people and injured over 200. The Institute for Conflict, Cooperation and Security (ICCS) at the University of Birmingham brought together a cross-college panel of experts to address issues of radicalization, security and foreign policy, policing and intelligence, and counter-terrorism legislation. The panel explored the possible motivations for the attacks, review counter-terrorism policy in view of the uncertain state of UK domestic politics, and discuss how to mitigate the likelihood of similar attacks in the future.

Speakers included:

• Professor David H Dunn (Political Science and International Studies)
• Dr Katherine Brown (Theology and Religion)
• Dr Elizabeth Morrow (Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats)
• Dr Steve Hewitt (History)
• Dr Sara Fregonese (Geography)
• Professor Fiona de Londras (Law School)

Chair: Professor Nicholas J Wheeler (Director, ICCS)

Recent articles by members of the panel:

• Theresa May's tough talk isn't going to make Britons safer (Steve Hewitt)
• Jeremy Corbyn is right: we can be honest about the causes of terrorism while still refusing to justify it (Fiona de Londras)
• This is how Islamist radicalisation actually happens (Katherine Brown)
• Islamophobia and causes of terrorism must be part of awkward conversations after London Bridge attack (Katherine Brown and Chris Allen)
• Resilience, religion and laughter after the London attack and Manchester bombing (Katherine Brown)
• The Manchester attack: what do the security measures mean for the UK moving forward? (David Dunn)
• Tearing up human rights law won’t protect us from terrorism (Fiona de Londras)
• Is there a link between foreign policy and terrorism? British intelligence thinks so (Steve Hewitt)
• Eight minutes on London Bridge: years of training led to lightning police response (Steve Hewitt)