No film star is having a year as good as Sandra Hüller. With Project Hail Mary smashing the box office, and new film Fatherland earning rave reviews at Cannes, she could do the unprecedented. We all know a potential Oscar clip when we see one
Dual-income techie couple hesitates to buy ₹1.7 crore flat amid IT layoffsThe techie shared that while they can manage the EMIs and down payment, they fear getting trapped with a massive loan during layoffs. Published on: May 16, 2026 7:09 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link For tech
Hollywood star John Travolta has been surprised with an honourary Palme d'Or, the Cannes equivalent of a lifetime achievement award, while premiering his directorial debut at the film festival. The 72-year-old actor, who was at the film festival for the premiere of Propeller One-Way Night Coach
‘Bee tornado’ spotted near White House: ‘Is this a biblical curse 2.0?’Videos circulating across social media showed dense clouds of bees swarming around the White House press corps’ “Pebble Beach” media workspace. Updated on: May 16, 2026 4:06 AM IST By Shirin Gupta Share via Copy
Split tenure plan for Kerala CM post shot down in Delhi during Congress leadership talksOn Thursday, the party announced their choice as VD Satheesan, the 61-year-old leader of opposition. There were no deputy chief ministers announced. Updated on: May 16
UK Confronts Rising Long-Term Terror Threat From Gaza War
UK Confronts Rising Long-Term Terror Threat From Gaza War
(Bloomberg) -- Since the conflict between Israel and Hamas flared anew two years ago, UK security officials have braced for the bloodshed to spread into local streets. On Thursday — Yom Kippur — the violence finally struck Britain's Jewish community.
The attack on the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue in Manchester was the deadliest domestic terrorist attack since 2020. The assailant — identified by police as a 35-year-old British citizen of Syrian descent — drove a vehicle at the temple and then attacked worshipers with a knife, recalling a spate of car-ramming and stabbing attacks in 2017 and 2019.
While counterterrorism police have not explained Jihad Al-Shamie's motives or his path to a fatal standoff with armed police this week, the incident has crystallized concern building in the British security services since Oct. 7, 2023. The risk that local residents — inspired by Hamas or radicalized over Israel's military response in Gaza — would resort to violence has long been considered high in a country with deep links to the Middle Eastern conflict and the Israeli government.
“We are powerfully alive to the risk that events in the Middle East directly trigger terrorist action in the UK,” Ken McCallum, director-general of the domestic security service MI5, said in a speech last year.
Security officials are concerned by what they see as the unquantifiable potential radicalizing effects on thousands of people in Britain, especially young people, of watching high-resolution videos of people being killed in Gaza every day. That poses both an immediate threat and the danger of what McCallum has called “slower-burn radicalization.”
Pro-Palestinian rallies have become a regular occurrence in London and many other cities, with Muslims comprising 6.5% of the population of England and Wales as of 2021. Although the marches have been mostly peaceful, opponents have complained about intimidation of passers-by and antisemitic banners and slogans.
Another rally is planned for London's Trafalgar Square on Saturday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, which just last month recognized a Palestinian state in a bid to put pressure on Israel to end its military campaign, has called on the organizer, Defend our Juries, to cancel the demonstration.
Reports of antisemitism against Jews, who represent 0.5% of the population, reached a record high last year. Incidents of Islamophobia have increased, as well, and provided an undercurrent to a wave anti-migrant riots in the summer of 2024. Some 75% of UK counterterror activity relates to Islamist extremism, with the other 25% focused on extreme right-wing terrorism, according to data published by MI5 last year.
Anti-terror police have disrupted several alleged plots targeting Jews over the past year. Two men are due to face trial later this month charged with planning to carry out an Islamic State-inspired gun attack on the Jewish community in the northwest of England, where Manchester is located.
Police are continuing to investigate an alleged plot targeting the Israeli embassy in London earlier this year. In 2024, a Moroccan asylum-seeker was jailed for killing a 70-year-old man in a terror attack inspired by the Gaza war.
“It is the responsibility of government and we will rise to that challenge and do all that we can to absolutely ensure that our Jewish community is safe and secure,” Starmer told a gathering of Manchester first-responders on Friday.
Although he has promised extra police protection for Jewish sites, critics note that the Manchester synagogue already had gates and government-subsidized security and say more action is needed to counter antisemitism broadly.
A shift in the nature of terrorism from organized cells and larger terror groups toward lone actors means new challenges for anti-terror police. Some successful recent terrorist incidents have been carried out by people who were not on the security services' radar and acted alone, often after suddenly becoming radicalized to the point of violence by material found online.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told Sky News on Friday that Al-Shamie had not been referred to the government's anti-terror program known as Prevent. But counterterrorism police later said that Al-Shamie was facing an investigation for rape allegations and was free on bail.
“We believe Al-Shamie may have been influenced by extreme Islamist ideology,” Head of Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor said in a statement. “Establishing the full circumstances of the attack is likely to take some time.”
As of Friday evening, police had arrested six others in the wake the Manchester attack on suspicion of commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism.
The case hints at the messy picture confronting counterterrorism agents when it comes to finding would-be terrorists with a limited grasp of their stated causes, often with mental-health problems and personal grievances. For all those complexities, the online world is central to both the threat and countering it, hence the UK's ongoing efforts to circumvent encryption for terror suspects, sparking a fight with Apple, Inc. and the US.
Security officials are also concerned by efforts from Al-Qaeda and in particular Islamic State Khorasan Province to use the conflict in Gaza to export their ideologies to Britain once again. The UK might have expected to see more Gaza-related violence, if it wasn't for Al-Qaeda and Islamic State focusing their attention on other conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria, one official said.
That is in danger of changing as those groups seek to use images from the Middle East to encourage people to carry out terrorist acts in Britain. In the past two years, a man in Coventry was jailed for life for designing an armed drone for Islamic State and two brothers in Birmingham were convicted of attempting to join ISKP.
Home Office officials see links between the conflict in Gaza and broader unrest on British streets. A government official said that pro-Palestine demonstrations too often cross the line into criminality, citing the arrest of some 40 people at pro-Palestine protests on the evening after the synagogue attack, including six charged with assaulting police officers.
Such displays are used by far-right groups to organize their own demonstrations, such as a 110,000-strong rally held in the capital by activist the activist Tommy Robinson last month. While Starmer criticized that march for trying to “drag our country down into a toxic spiral of division and hatred” and branded leading Gaza protest organizer, Palestine Action, as a terrorist group, his government is caught in the middle.
But it's the information people get online, much of it false or distorted, that security officials say has made attacks like Thursday's both more likely and harder to prevent.
“Sadly, we've long known about, and struggled to combat, the power of what people see online in radicalizing minds, especially young minds,” former Cabinet Secretary Simon Case told Bloomberg in an interview. “We will probably be living with the online reverberations of Hamas's attack and the Israeli response for many years to come.”
--With assistance from Alex Morales, William Standring, Siraj Datoo and Myles Miller.
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Source: LiveMint
Related Posts: Bloomberg Green’s Guide to Climate Week NYC Himesh Reshammiya becomes the only Indian on Bloomberg’s global pop power list Israel identifies bodies of two hostages returned by Hamas Two years on, will Israel and Hamas seize the chance to end the war Larsen & Toubro Shares Fall 12% In Two Days Amid Iran Conflict Two killed, two injured in Vikhroli landslide amid heavy rainfall in Mumbai Two protests, two elections Sinner marches to round two with win over two-time finalist Cilic Two BLOs die across two districts in M Iran’s navy launches first military drill since 12-day war with Israel
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.4K, OLED, HDR: What actually matters when buying a TV in 2026Choosing a TV gets confusing fast, so understanding display, HDR, gaming
1 hours ago
India cannot depend on others for its security: RajnathDefence Minister Rajnath Singh emphasizes self-reliance in India's defence sector, highlighting significant advancements and new projects for national security. Published on: May 16, 2026 7:58 AM IST By Srinivasa Rao Apparasu
1 hours ago
Under the revised norms, first-time applicants seeking permission to import gold will now undergo mandatory physical inspection of their manufacturing units by DGFT officials before authorisation is granted. New Delhi: The Centre has imposed a limit on duty-free gold imports under the
1 hours ago
The US government is suing a Chick-fil-A franchisee for allegedly denying an employee's request to take Saturdays off work for religious reasons. The lawsuit claims that Hatch Trick Inc, the franchisee, violated federal law by denying an employee's request to refrain from work on Saturdays for
2 hours ago
VD Satheesan has been announced the next Kerala CM. The decision ended days of suspense and intense lobbying within the Congress after the UDF’s massive Assembly election victory. After days of intense lobbying, backroom consultations and mounting suspense
1 hours ago
Uphold ‘nation first’ spirit, support PM’s call to conserve fuel: YogiChief minister Yogi Adityanath inaugurates, lays foundation stone of ₹208-crore projects in Maharajganj district, says every vote transformative, can choose development or mafia rule Published on: May 16
1 hours ago
The tax cut could help cushion the impact of recent jet fuel price hikes on consumers and transport-related sectors in the state. The Maharashtra government on Friday reduced value-added tax (VAT) on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) or jet fuel from 18 per cent to 7 per cent for a period of six months
2 hours ago
US President Donald Trump has cautioned Taiwan against formally declaring independence from China. "I'm not looking to have somebody go independent," the US president told Fox News on Friday, at the end of his two-day summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing
2 hours ago
As AI reshapes career expectations, students and parents are increasingly evaluating universities through the lens of future-readiness. Modern infrastructure, technology enabled learning environments and visible institutional preparedness are emerging as important factors influencing admissions
1 hours ago
The Central Bureau of Investigation has arrested the main accused in the alleged paper leak in the 2026 undergraduate National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, said the Union government on Friday. In a press release, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions identified the alleged
2 hours ago
Rupee at Fresh All-Time Low: The domestic currency hits its fresh all-time low of 96.14 against the US dollar during the day, falling 50 paise from the previous close. Rupee at New Record Low: The Indian rupee on Friday breached the 96 mark for the first time in history
1 hours ago
The cruise missile hit the nine-story corner apartment block Thursday during what the Ukrainian air force said was Russia’s biggest barrage on the country of the full-scale invasion. Emergency workers finished digging through the rubble searching for victims after more than a day
2 hours ago
The Indian rupee closed at a record low of 95.8 against the United States dollar on Friday. During the intraday trade, the currency breached the 96-per-dollar mark on account of rising global oil prices due to the war in West Asia and inflation concerns
2 hours ago
OpenAI has launched a new Personal Finance experience inside ChatGPT which allows users to connect their financial accounts, chat with the AI assistant to understand their spending habits, subscriptions, investments, and broader financial goals
1 hours ago
Love Horoscope Today for May 16, 2026: Real love may feel safer than expectedLove Horoscope Today: Find daily astrological predictions for all sun signs. Published on: May 16, 2026 7:30 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link Aries Love asks you to think of long-term
1 hours ago
In a significant milestone for Assam politics, Chandra Mohan Patowary has been sworn in as Pro-tem Speaker of the 16th Assam Legislative Assembly, ready to lead the ceremony for incoming MLAs as the Assembly convenes on May 21. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is currently reviewing advancements
1 hours ago
The casting process for the new James Bond has officially begun, after years of anticipation and speculation about who will take over from Daniel Craig as 007. "The search for the next James Bond is under way," Amazon MGM Studios said in a statement
1 days ago
Efforts to unseat British Prime Minister Keir Starmer from within his party broke into open rebellion on Thursday (May 15, 2026), with one potential rival resigning from the Cabinet and two others positioning themselves for a future leadership challenge
1 days ago
The in Beijing is forcing Korea's to weigh a difficult trade-off as equipment suppliers see fresh business opportunities while manufacturers fear a narrowed . This dilemma pits the potential for immediate sales in China against the long-term risk of helping Chinese firms catch up to industry
1 days ago
‘Not right’: Former RAW chief flags security risks in PM Modi convoy downsizingStressing that the present security environment remains “highly volatile”, Goel said the Prime Minister’s protection should instead be strengthened. Published on: May 15
1 days ago
Jwala Gutta 'donated 60 litres of breast milk to government hospitals in Hyderabad and Chennai' in one year: Here is whyJwala Gutta highlighted the importance of donor milk for infants in NICUs. The badminton champion shared her journey of ‘donating 60 litres of breast milk’
1 days ago
Is pancreatic cancer hiding in plain sight? Gastroenterologist explains the silent red flags most people ignoreDr Saurabh Sethi warns that pancreatic cancer often progresses silently, with vague symptoms like back pain and weight loss easily ignored. Family Published on: May 15
1 days ago
Father breaks laptop, makes student sleep on floor over 57.4% in CBSE examsThe Reddit post has sparked a discussion on the toxic environment created by some Indian households during academic cycles. Published on: May 15, 2026 12:20 PM IST By HT Trending Desk Share via Copy link A heartbreaking
1 days ago
Chinese tech giant Tencent announced strategic partnerships with the Services Export Promotion Council () and the () on Friday.“Our goal in India is two-pronged: bringing world-class gaming experiences to Indian players, while simultaneously building the developer and talent ecosystem
1 days ago
China called on Friday (May 15, 2026) for a lasting truce in the West Asia and for shipping lanes to be reopened “as soon as possible”, as the strategic Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed during the war with Iran. Iran has largely blocked shipping through the vital strait since
1 days ago
India’s AI ecosystem is entering a new phase driven by collaborative platforms connecting builders, enterprises, and innovation communities at scale. As AI experimentation becomes more accessible, ecosystems such as ET AI Hackathon 2.0 are accelerating real-world innovation
1 days ago
PM Modi landed, signed key deals, left UAE - all in 2 hours | Full list of pactsAmong the deals signed between India and the UAE during PM Modi's visit is agreement on framework for strategic defence partnership between both countries. Updated on: May 15
1 days ago
