UK to earmark £2m for scientific anti-terror research

The United Kingdom has decided to earmark £2m to fund research into technology and behavioural science projects that could identify possible terrorists in crowds.

According to The Guardian, Ben Wallace, the security minister, will announce the funding at a meeting in London on Monday.

Britain has been the target of a series of terrorist attacks this year that took place in busy locations or crowded spaces.

Counter-terror agencies are running 500 investigations involving 3,000 individuals at any one time as they confront an unprecedented threat.

The competition is seeking research proposals to reduce the threat from terrorist attacks involving weapons or explosives. The scheme will be run in partnership between the Home Office and Defence and Security Accelerator, which was launched last year to seek out security innovations for the security services and police, with support from the Royal Society, reported The Guardian.

It quoted Lucy Mason, head of the Defence and Security Accelerator, as saying that "we must bring together the brightest minds from the private sector and academia to help find solutions to keep our country and people safe and secure".

Mason encouraged anyone who feels they have an idea to help keep crowded areas safe to visit the Accelerator website for more information.