Spanish journalist hits out at May for EU Brexit threats during spate of terror attacks
THERESA MAY has been slammed for threatening to quit the European Union’s collaboration to prevent terror attacks across the Continent in the wake of the London Bridge terror attack.
Spanish host: May wrong to break from EU terror collaboration
A Spanish journalist branded the Prime Minister “irresponsible” after Mrs May hinted Britain may weaken its cooperation on crime and security if a sensible agreement is reached on the so-called Brexit bill.
After it was suggested Britain’s EU divorce bill could reach as much as £84billion, Mrs May suggested a final divorce agreement would need to take in both economic and security cooperation and issued a clear warning about the potential fall out.
She wrote: “If, however, we leave the European Union without an agreement, the default position is that we would have to trade on World Trade Organisation terms. In security terms, a failure to reach agreement would mean our cooperation in the fight against crime and terrorism would weaken.”
Carlos Herrera made the comments after seven people were killed and 48 more injured after three terrorists launched a deadly van and knife attack around London Bridge and Borough Market on Saturday night.
It was a huge and total irresponsibility, especially seeing how things have ended
Speaking on Spanish radio station Cope, Herrera said: “What May said about reducing collaboration against terrorism was irresponsible.
“Theresa May has announced new anti-terrorist laws that will give more power to the police. They will include tougher penalties for those convicted of terrorism, new measures against internet jihadism and maximum collaboration between Europeans.
“Very different from the nonsense that this lady said in the middle of Brexit negotiations about reducing its collaboration in strategic defence against terrorism with other European countries did not reduce the Brexit bill.
“It was a huge and total irresponsibility, especially seeing how things have ended.”
Phil Campion: Identified extremists must be taken off the streets
Mrs May in the wake of the London Bridge attack told the country she would seek to implement new anti-terrorism laws, including an international effort to crackdown on jihadis operating across the internet.
The Prime Minister claimed there had been “far too much tolerance of extremism” in the UK, insisting international agreements must be introduced to prevent extremist ideology being given the “safe space it needs to breed”.
Speaking following an emergency Cobra meeting, Mrs May said: “We cannot allow this ideology the safe space it needs to breed – yet that is precisely what the internet, and the big companies that provide internet-based services provide.
“We need to work with allied democratic governments to reach international agreements to regulate cyberspace to prevent the spread of extremism and terrorism planning.”
Despite his attack on Mrs May, Herrera, however, paid tribute to the brave responders who brought the deadly attack to an end.
The Spanish journalist added: “Among the heroes of the night, an agent of the transport police who was armed with a club.
“He faced the terrorists receiving several stab wounds, he was seriously injured. Also, citizens who enjoyed Saturday night in the pubs in the area, who began throwing chairs, glasses, plates against these men.
“In the end eight agents who arrived opened fire using fifty bullets. Terrorists wore fake vests of explosives, similar to those of suicide bombers, which creates fear and terror. Then it was nothing, just vests.”