‘Alarmist’ media coverage ‘bears no relation’ to jihadi threat level

The “alarmist” media coverage in relation to the Irish link to the London terror attack last Saturday “bears no relation” to the jihadi threat level to Ireland, according to a terrorism expert.

James Fitzgerald, a lecturer in terrorism at DCU, said the “ratcheting up” of suspicions, in the absence of evidence of a threat, is “irresponsible and damaging”.

He said, contrary to media speculation of gardaí being “wholly unprepared”, gardaí have been proactive in the cases that have come to light in recent years.