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Category: UK
May 9, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
News
UK

Prosecutors Claim Man ‘Harassed’ Islam by Burning Quran.

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❓What Happened: Prosecutors have charged a man for burning a Quran in England, which critics say could introduce blasphemy laws back to the country.

👥 Who’s Involved: Prosecutors, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick, Hamit Coskun.

📍 Where & When: Charges were laid after Coskun burned the Quran as part of a protest earlier this year.

💬 Key Quote: “It is not for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or courts to create a blasphemy law in this country by the back door.” — Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) Robert Jenrick.

⚠️ Impact: If the prosecution continues and Coskun is found guilty, it could introduce a new de facto blasphemy law into the British legal system.

IN FULL:

British prosecutors have criminally charged a man under the Public Order Act after setting fire to a copy of the Islamic Quran, claiming that he was “harassing” the religion by doing so. Critics have warned that the case could set a precedent for a quasi-blasphemy law in the United Kingdom if the man is convicted.

Hamit Coskun has been charged with harassing the religion, which the prosecutor claims is an “institution” in Britain. It is the first time anyone has been charged with such an offense, as prior to the case, religions like Islam were not considered “persons.”

Shadow Justice Secretary and former Conservative Party leadership contender Robert Jenrick sharply criticised the move to prosecute Coskun. “Burning the Quran, like any religious text, is something that some people find very offensive and few people would condone, but that’s not the point. There are many things in our society that people find offensive, but that doesn’t make them criminal,” Jenrick said. 

He added that Britain scrapped blasphemy laws nearly two decades prior, saying it was “right to do so.” He insisted: “It is not for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) or courts to create a blasphemy law in this country by the back door.”

The case came just months after another man in Manchester was admonished by a judge for tearing out a page of a Quran and burning it. According to the judge, the book was “sacred” and such actions were not permissible in a “tolerant” society.

Some Muslim lawmakers in Britain, including members of the ruling Labour Party, have called for blasphemy laws to return to the country. Tahir Ali MP urged the government to ban the desecration of religious texts, something Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer refused to rule out at the time.

Image by Frankie Fouganthin.

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May 8, 2025
William Upton
Economy
UK

BREAKING: Trump Seals US-UK Trade Deal.

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❓What Happened: A bilateral trade deal between the United States and the United Kingdom was signed on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

👥 Who’s Involved: President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

📍 Where & When: Announcement from the Oval Office on Thursday.

💬 Key Quote: “Both countries agree that economic security is national security,” said President Trump, noting that the deal will “bring the United Kingdom into economic security alignment with the United States.”

⚠️ Impact: The deal is seen as a significant move following President Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs in the U.S. and Brexit in the United Kingdom, with potential implications for UK-EU relations.

IN FULL:

The United States and the United Kingdom signed a significant trade agreement on Thursday, the first bilateral deal since President Donald J. Trump imposed tariffs on foreign goods in April. Before the signing, President Trump alluded to the agreement, saying the White House would be making a “major” announcement that would be “very big and exciting” for both the U.S. and the UK.

President Trump said the deal will eliminate many tariff and non-tariff barriers to American goods entering the British market, and vice versa, “bring[ing] the United Kingdom into economic security alignment with the United States.” The America First leader’s words suggest his administration is looking to create something of an economic bloc on the world stage, comprised of like-minded allies, as opposed to a system of general free trade, including countries like Communist China, which is notorious for underhanded commercial practices such as currency manipulation and industrial espionage.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said it was “a really fantastic, historic day,” paying tribute to President Trump and his negotiating team and noting the symbolism of the deal being signed of Victory in Europe (VE) Day, when the United States, the British Empire, and other allies declared victory over Nazi Germany. 

Notably, the trade agreement is only possible because of the United Kingdom’s Brexit vote and subsequent departure from the European Union (EU). This move has given British leaders greater maneuverability on the international stage, with the EU controlling trade policy for all of its member states and barring them from making their own bilateral deals.

The British-American agreement is a critical step for both nations, as the two countries are each other’s largest source of foreign direct investment. Additionally, the U.S. is the top export market for British goods, and the UK is the seventh-largest export destination for U.S. exports—with commerce likely to be further uplifted by the new trade agreement.

Last month, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance signalled that a trade deal with the United Kingdom was a priority for the Trump White House. The Vice President stated: “There’s a real cultural affinity. And of course, fundamentally, America is an Anglo country. I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.”

President Trump is set to visit the United Kingdom in September for a second state visit. It is widely expected that the British-American trade deal will serve as a catalyst for other nations to expedite their negotiations with the U.S. and pressure the EU to make concessions, so its former member state does not gain too much of a competitive advantage.

WATCH:

Jack Montgomery contributed to this report.

This story is developing…

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May 8, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Immigration
UK

Counter-Terror Police Raid Migrant Hotels Amid Terror Plot.

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❓What Happened: British counter-terrorism police arrested five Iranian nationals living in migrant hotels connected to an alleged terrorist plot.

👥 Who’s Involved: British Counter-Terrorism Police, five Iranian suspects.

📍 Where & When: Arrests took place on May 3 across England, reported on May 7.

💬 Key Quote: “The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation.” — Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command.

⚠️ Impact: The report comes as many are also concerned about the staggering costs of housing asylum seekers in hotels across the country.

IN FULL:

Counter-terrorism police in Britain raided hotels housing asylum seekers last weekend, arresting five Iranian nationals over alleged terror plot fears. The arrests took place in London, Manchester, Swindon, Rochdale, and Stockport in the early hours of May 3.

The five men are reported to be aged 24 to 46, with one being released on bail, while the remaining four suspects are still in police custody as of May 7. Some of those arrested are believed to have entered the United Kingdom illegally, but reports did not specify if they came via boat across the English Channel, like many illegal immigrants in recent years.

“The investigation is still in its early stages and we are exploring various lines of enquiry to establish any potential motivation as well as to identify whether there may be any further risk to the public linked to this matter,” Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said.

While not all asylum seekers in Britain are housed in hotels up and down the country, the sums the government pays for migrant hotels are enormous. A report from March of last year suggested that taxpayers foot the bill to the tune of £15 million (~$20 million) per day to cover the costs.

The residents of the hotels have seen their share of criminal behaviour in recent months, including the murder of a woman working at an asylum hotel in Walsall, England, last October. A migrant from South Sudan was accused of killing 27-year-old Rhiannon Skye White at a railway station, stabbing her to death.

Image by Tony Hisgett.

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May 8, 2025
Immigration
UK

Farage Slams Labour for ‘Betraying British Workers’ in India Trade Deal.

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❓What Happened: Nigel Farage has slammed the new trade deal between Britain and India, accusing the ruling Labour Party of betraying British workers.

👥 Who’s Involved: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Reform Party leader Nigel Farage, former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, and John O’Connell of the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA).

📍 Where & When: The trade deal was agreed upon in London and Delhi on May 6.

💬 Key Quote: Nigel Farage stated, “This Government doesn’t give a damn about working people.”

⚠️ Impact: The deal may make it cheaper for companies to hire Indian migrants over British natives, sparking criticism and concerns over increased migration.

IN FULL:

A new trade agreement between the United Kingdom and India has sparked controversy, with Reform Party leader Nigel Farage accusing the Labour government under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of betraying the British working class. The agreement, described as the largest post-Brexit trade deal yet, aims to boost bilateral trade by $33.3 billion and potentially add $6.3 billion to British GDP annually. It includes significant tariff reductions on British exports like cars and whisky, while also lowering import taxes on Indian goods such as textiles and seafood.

However, Farage has criticized immigration elements in the deal, as it will make it roughly 20 percent cheaper for companies to employ Indian migrants rather than British workers, citing recent increases in National Insurance payments for British companies. “This Government doesn’t give a damn about working people,” Farage said.

Prime Minister Starmer has hailed the deal, claiming it will improve living standards and strengthen Anglo-Indian ties. However, critics have raised concerns over migration concessions included in the agreement. The deal allows Indian chefs, musicians, and yogis access to the United Kingdom’s contractual services visa route, which was previously restricted. More controversially, a “double contribution convention” exempts some Indian migrant workers from paying National Insurance contributions for three years. This also applies to British workers in India—but migration in this direction is negligible.

“The Labour Party have this time in a big, big way betrayed working Britain, and that’s why many people voted for us last Thursday, but for some reason the Government just doesn’t seem to understand,” Farage said, referencing Reform’s significant gains in last week’s municipal elections.

Indian-heritage former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, of the Conservative Party, echoed these concerns, noting her previous opposition to similar visa concessions. John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, added that taxpayers would be outraged by the exemptions granted to Indian workers while British workers face higher taxes.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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May 7, 2025
News
UK

Farage’s Reform Party Surges Ahead of Labour, Tories in Historic Poll.

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❓What Happened: Nigel Farage’s Reform Party achieved a significant polling lead following local election successes in England.

👥 Who’s Involved: Nigel Farage, Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice MP, Luke Tryl, and the Labour and Conservative parties.

📍 Where & When: England, following the local elections on May 1, with polling data released shortly after.

💬 Key Quote: “Another record Reform poll… [and] these are before the latest Labour mass immigration blunder.” —  Richard Tice.

⚠️ Impact: Reform is potentially reshaping the political landscape by positioning itself as the primary opposition to Labour, displacing the formerly governing Conservatives on the British right.

IN FULL:

Nigel Farage’s Reform Party has taken a commanding polling lead after a successful showing in England’s municipal elections on May 1. According to recent YouGov data, the party, led by Brexit leader Nigel Farage, is now 12 points ahead of the Conservatives and seven points clear of the ruling Labour Party. Reform is the only major party to have gained ground since the last survey conducted in late April.

The latest figures indicate that 29 percent of Britons would vote for Reform if a General Election were held today, compared to 22 percent for Labour and 17 percent for the Conservatives. Richard Tice, Reform’s deputy leader, highlighted this surge: “Another record Reform poll… [and] these are before the latest Labour mass immigration blunder.”

Luke Tryl, a director at More In Common and polling expert, observed, “Reform UK momentum continues as they hit 27 per cent in our voting intention poll, their highest we have recorded and [their] first lead outside the margin of error.”

A Reform spokesman said that the Conservative Party, which governed largely from the center-left from 2010 to mid-2024, is in “terminal decline,” suggesting that Reform has now positioned itself as the real opposition to Labour.

Reform dominated the local council elections in England, with Farage saying that his party’s triumph was an “apocalypse” for the two-party system in Britain.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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May 6, 2025
Crime
UK

UK Govt Plans to End Compensation Program for Child Sex Abuse Victims: Report.

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❓What Happened: The Labour government has scrapped a compensation program for child sex abuse victims in England and Wales, originally promised by the former Conservative (Tory) government.

👥 Who’s Involved: The decision involves the Labour Party government, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Britain’s Home Office. Victims of child sexual abuse and survivors of Muslim grooming gangs are affected.

📍 Where & When: The decision affects England and Wales, with the report emerging recently.

💬 Key Quote: Sarah Wilson, a survivor, stated, “They never cared, and they never will. [They] totally dismissed survivors and our experiences of being groomed.”

⚠️ Impact: Canceling the compensation scheme leaves victims without promised redress and raises concerns about accountability for past failures in protecting young girls.

IN FULL:

Britain’s leftist Labour government has reportedly decided to cancel a compensation scheme for victims of child sexual abuse in England and Wales. This program, initially promised by the previous Conservative government, was intended to provide financial redress to survivors.

The Home Office, roughly equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in its report titled Tackling Child Sexual Abuse: Progress Update, cited financial constraints as the reason for halting further steps on the proposal, stating that “in the current fiscal environment, this recommendation is very difficult to take forward”—despite vast sums being found to lavish on hotels and other accommodation for illegal aliens.

The scheme was first suggested following recommendations from the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) led by Alexis Jay. While similar redress programs have been implemented in Northern Ireland and Scotland, victims in England and Wales are left without this avenue for compensation.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer‘s administration defends its decision not to conduct a national inquiry into the grooming scandals involving predominantly Muslim, Pakistani-heritage gangs preying on predominantly white, working-class victims. The government claims that existing reports, like the Jay report, provide sufficient insight, even though they do not cover many grooming gang hotspots. Most believe a full national inquiry with statutory powers is necessary to compel witness testimony and ensure accountability for the scandal.

Cabinet minister Lucy Powell recently dismissed concerns about the grooming gangs as “dog whistle” politics. This response has drawn criticism from survivors like Sarah Wilson, who expressed frustration over the lack of attention to their experiences, saying, “They never cared, and they never will. [They] totally dismissed survivors and our experiences of being groomed.”

The issue of accountability remains pressing, particularly in Labour-run areas like Rotherham, where an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct concluded without any police officers being punished, despite acknowledging that police ignored grooming gangs to avoid stoking racial tensions. An unnamed police chief inspector reportedly said, “With it being [South] Asians, we can’t afford for this to be coming out as Rotherham would erupt.”

Image by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street.

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May 5, 2025
Health
UK

Surge in Self-Identified Autism, ‘Neurodivergence’ in Brits.

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❓What Happened: A leading psychologist says a majority of Britons might now identify as “neurodivergent,” with increased self-identification as well as medical diagnoses.

👥 Who’s Involved: Francesca Happé, a King’s College London professor, and people seeking neurodivergent diagnoses.

📍 Where & When: United Kingdom, ongoing; notable data from August 2024.

💬 Key Quote: “An increasing number of people are choosing to self-identify [as neurodivergent] without seeking a diagnosis,” said Francesca Happé.

⚠️ Impact: The surge in diagnosis requests has led to a significant backlog, with 90 percent of referrals waiting beyond the recommended assessment period.

IN FULL:

A growing number of Britons are identifying as neurodivergent, according to Francesca Happé, a professor of cognitive neuroscience at King’s College London. This trend is attributed to both an increase in medical diagnoses for conditions such as autism, dyslexia, and dyspraxia, as well as a rise in self-identification.

Happé highlighted the societal shift, particularly among younger generations. However, she cautioned that behaviors once seen as mere eccentricities are now often labeled with medical terms, raising questions about the appropriateness of such classifications.

“An increasing number of people are choosing to self-identify [as neurodivergent] without seeking a diagnosis,” Happé said. She suggested that society might already have more self-identified neurodivergent individuals than those considered “neurotypical.”

The demand for autism assessments in Britain has soared, with requests increasing by 22 percent year over year, reaching 200,000 in August 2024. According to National Health Service (NHS) data, this surge has resulted in a significant backlog, with 90 percent of referrals exceeding the recommended 13-week assessment period.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) encompasses a range of challenges, including difficulties with social interaction, communication, and rigid adherence to routines. Despite these challenges, Happé emphasized the benefits of a diagnosis, such as access to care and improved social communication.

Britain has noted a surge in cases of reported autism since the COVID-19 pandemic. Over half of those waiting to see an autism specialist are teenagers or younger.

It remains unknown whether the rise in reported autism cases is linked to social isolation or other external factors. Some claim that vaccines may also be related to the increase. U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced last month that new studies will be undertaken to determine the cause of the explosion in autism diagnoses.

Image by Kirst O’Connor / Treasury.

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May 5, 2025
UK

Farage Targets Migrant Hotels & Net Zero After Major Election Breakthrough.

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❓What Happened: Reform UK plans to use their recent local election success to block illegal migrants and challenge the government’s green agenda.

👥 Who’s Involved: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, Chairman Zia Yusuf, Dame Andrea Jenkyns, and the Labour government led by Sir Kier Starmer.

📍 Where & When: England, following the municipal elections last week.

💬 Key Quote: “We will be publishing a plan to deport everybody who is currently in this country illegally in our first term of government,” said Zia Yusuf.

⚠️ Impact: Potential legal challenges against government policies and a push to influence future national elections.

IN FULL:

The Reform Party, led by Nigel Farage, is poised to leverage its recent electoral success to challenge immigration and environmental policies in England. Following a significant triumph in local council elections at the beginning of May, the party has articulated plans to prevent illegal immigrants from being housed in areas under its control and to contest the central government’s climate initiatives.

Zia Yusuf, the chairman of Reform, emphasized the party’s commitment to utilizing “every instrument of power available” at the council level to halt the dispersal of asylum seekers throughout England. Many migrants are arriving illegally via safe countries like France, making it highly unlikely they were genuinely in danger prior to entering Britain. The party’s strategy includes legal injunctions, judicial reviews, and leveraging planning laws to counteract the central government, controlled by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leftist Labour Party.

Labour is reportedly expanding a program initiated by the notionally right-wing Conservatives, who governed from 2010 to mid-2024, that involves renting private homes for migrants, sparking concerns over public safety and the housing market. Yusuf highlighted that many hotels converted for migrant use may violate regulations, an issue currently being explored by Reform’s legal team.

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Reform’s newly elected Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, proposed housing migrants in tents, as seen in France, to deter them from coming to Britain for an easy ride at taxpayers’ expense. More broadly, Yusuf said that Reform would work to deport all illegal immigrants if it wins the next general election.

Reform is also targeting the government’s climate agenda, with Dame Andrea highlighting a plan to challenge Net Zero Minister Ed Milliband’s policies, which increase energy prices for industry and households. This could include legal challenges.

Image courtesy of Stuart Mitchell, IncMonocle.

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May 5, 2025
UK
War

Half of ‘Britons’ Say They’re Unwilling to Fight for The Country.

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❓What Happened: Nearly half of Britons surveyed say they would refuse to fight for their country “under any circumstances.”

👥 Who’s Involved: Ipsos survey respondents, Richard Gill, a former British Army officer.

📍 Where & When: United Kingdom, ahead of Victory in Europe (VE) Day commemorations on May 5.

💬 Key Quote: “We’ve stopped teaching pride in our country, its history, and its values… A nation unsure of itself cannot expect its people to defend it. That must change.” — Richard Gill.

⚠️ Impact: The findings highlight a decline in patriotic sentiment, with significant gender and political divides.

IN FULL:

A recent Ipsos survey reveals a significant decline in patriotic sentiment among Britons, with nearly half of those surveyed expressing an unwillingness to fight for their country “under any circumstances.”

The survey, which queried over 1,000 adults, found that only 35 percent of respondents would be willing to take up arms in a time of war, while a notable 48 percent stated there were no conditions under which they would go to war for Britain. An additional 17 percent said they were unsure of their stance.

The survey results emerge as the United Kingdom prepares for Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) commemorations, marking 80 years since the end of the Second World War, with celebrations including a military procession through central London on May 5.

Richard Gill, a former British Army officer with service in Iraq and Afghanistan, commented on the survey’s implications, suggesting a “deeper national malaise” as the root cause. He warned, “We’ve stopped teaching pride in our country, its history, and its values. A nation unsure of itself cannot expect its people to defend it. That must change.”

The survey also uncovered notable gender and age disparities. While nearly half of the men surveyed (49 percent) expressed a willingness to fight, only 21 percent of women shared the same sentiment. Among younger respondents aged 18 to 34, 42 percent indicated they would volunteer, whereas willingness significantly decreased to 28 percent among those aged 35 to 54, with over half of this group asserting they would never take up arms.

Political affiliations also played a role in respondents’ willingness to fight. Supporters of Nigel Farage’s Reform Party were the most inclined to defend their country—despite the establishment media and political parties attempting to paint them as Russian stooges—contrasting sharply with supporters of the fanatically pro-European Union (EU) Liberal Democrats, who were the least likely to do so.

Mass migration has also likely been a contributing factor in the strength of feeling towards the nation, with many first and second generation migrants more likely to fight for the nation from which they came, rather than the one in which they reside.

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May 4, 2025
UK

UK Cops Detain Iranians in Anti-Terrorism Raids.

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❓What Happened: Eight individuals were detained in the UK as part of anti-terrorism operations, with five men suspected of planning a terrorist act.

👥 Who’s Involved: The main group includes five men, four of whom are Iranian. Their ages range from 29 to 46. Three other Iranian nationals were arrested in a separate operation.

📍 Where & When: Arrests took place on Saturday in London, Swindon, and Greater Manchester.

💬 Key Quote: Dominic Murphy from the Metropolitan Police stated the investigation is in early stages, and authorities are exploring possible motivations and public risk.

⚠️ Impact: The arrests reflect heightened scrutiny of Iran-linked activities in the UK. British police have responded to 20 plots since 2022, believed to have connections to Tehran.

IN FULL:

Eight individuals, including seven Iranian nationals, were apprehended by UK police on Saturday in a pair of anti-terrorism stings. In a primary operation, five men, four of whom are Iranian, were detained on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act. The arrests occurred across London, Swindon, and the Greater Manchester area, according to a statement by London’s Metropolitan Police provided to Agence France-Presse.

The targeted individuals, aged between 29 and 46, were taken into custody under the Terrorism Act, except for one whose nationality is yet to be confirmed and who was arrested under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act. These arrests are linked to an alleged plot to target an unspecified site.

The UK faces increased alertness toward activities possibly backed by Iran. According to a Reuters report quoting Ken McCallum, the head of domestic intelligence, there have been responses to 20 Tehran-connected schemes posing potential threats to UK citizens since 2022. Yvette Cooper, the UK’s Interior Minister, referred to these developments as profound and part of safeguarding national security.

Dominic Murphy, the Metropolitan Police’s counter-terrorism chief, mentioned that the investigation is still unfolding. Various lines of enquiry are being pursued to identify motivations and assess any further risk to public safety.

Additionally, another three Iranian nationals were arrested during a separate operation in London on the same day. This underscores the ongoing vigilance concerning terrorism threats.

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