Starmer plans new powers to ban state-backed terror groups

Starmer plans new powers to ban state-backed terror groups23 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJoshua Nevett,Political reporterandDamian Grammaticas,Political correspondentEPAThe Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is among the organisations which could be banned by the new powersMinisters are planning to introduce new anti-terror powers that would enable them to ban state threats such as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the next parliamentary session.The new powers would allow the UK government to label state-backed groups as terrorist organisations.The legal change is expected to create new criminal offences for people who support or promote groups formally listed as state-supported threats.The BBC understands the new powers will be included in the government's plans for legislation, which will be set out in the King's Speech on 13 May.The IRGC was set up to defend Iran's Islamic system and has become a major military, political and economic force in the country.It is estimated to have tens of thousands of active personnel and has consistently been accused by Western nations of sponsoring terrorism abroad.Labour MPs have been urging the UK government to ban the IRGC following a series of antisemitic attacks since the war in Iran started.An Islamist group suspected of having Iranian links - Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia - claimed responsibility for a recent attack on Jewish community ambulances in north London, along with other incidents in the UK and Europe.Other European countries and the EU have already added the IRGC to their lists of proscribed terrorist organisations.This week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK must "deal with malign state actors" and suggested his government would bring forward legislation "as quickly as possible".The Jewish Chronicle newspaper also quoted Sir Keir as saying he was "very worried" about the increasing use of proxies by the Iran...