A judicial body in the UK has proposed tougher action against less sophisticated terror plots in the country.
The body in charge of ensuring consistent penalties and sentences.
Existing UK legislation imposes lesser sentences on those who plan more crude and rudimentary plots using cars or knives and not bombs and weapons.
Under proposals by the UK Sentencing Council, minimum terror sentences would rise to three to six years, compared to 21 months to five years under current law.
The new legislation would also allow people who helped the plotters, even slightly, to be charged.
"The latest acts of terrorism have involved far less sophisticated methods, many using motor vehicles, or knives, with devastating effects," the Council notes.
"When considering these actions in the current climate, where a terrorist act could be planned in a very short time using readily available items as weapons... where acts of terrorism can be committed by many rather than a few highly- organised individuals, these offences are more serious than they have previously been perceived," it adds.
The proposals published by the Council today are the first draft of recommendations to be made within a government review of terror laws and will be subject to a six-week consultation.
"We want to ensure that courts have comprehensive guidance for dealing with these extremely serious cases," the councils chairman, Lord Justice Treacy, said.
"Offences vary greatly and could include someone who tries to make a bomb, another who urges others to join a terrorist organisation or a group plotting a murderous attack on the public."
The council feels that given the heightened terror threat in the UK, this review was timely.
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)