- The firebombing of an immigration processing center was inspired by right-wing terrorism.
- Andrew Leak, 66, launched up to three incendiary explosives at the Dover, Kent, location.
- He is thought to have afterwards committed suicide.
The firebombing of an immigration processing facility was inspired by radical right-wing terrorism, according to investigators.
Last Sunday, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire resident Andrew Leak, 66, launched up to three incendiary explosives at the Dover, Kent, location.
He is thought to have afterwards committed suicide.
Counter Terrorism Policing South East (CTPSE) said evidence showed it “was motivated by a terrorist ideology”.
“This meets the threshold for a terrorist incident.”
CPTSE verified that Leak was unknown to the anti-terrorism police prior to the incident. It is understood that the security services were also unaware of him.
Anti-Muslim attitudes were apparently present on a now-deleted Facebook account under Leak’s name.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper tweeted: “Very serious that far right extremism drove this attack.
“I remain concerned that it took so long for counter terror police to take lead on this case.
“There must be highest vigilance on potential terror or extremist attacks.”
Police were contacted at 11:22 GMT on Sunday morning, leaving two center employees with minor injuries.
Approximately 700 refugees were relocated from Dover to the processing center in Manston as a result of the attack, despite the overcrowding there having already drawn harsh criticism from government inspectors.
A police statement on Saturday said: “A number of significant witnesses have been spoken to during the course of the investigation and a number of items of interest have been recovered, including digital media devices.
“Evidence from examining these items suggests there was an extreme right-wing motivation behind the attack.”
According to the police, there is no evidence that Leak has been working with anyone else and there is not thought to be a larger threat to the public.
They said that work on behalf of the coroner was being done as part of the continuing investigation.
At County Hall in Maidstone, an inquest into Leak’s passing is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.
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