Repression and resistance: counter-terror raids target Kurdish community in London

The Kurdish community in the UK has long been targeted by counter-terrorism measures; however, recent raids and arrests are an unprecedented escalation in the scale and seriousness of political repression. The nature and scale of the violence animating these events can only be fully understood through a consideration of the role of counter-terrorism in British policing, as well as the international context in which the ‘war on terror’ continues to be waged. In particular, these events highlight the role of the Turkish state as a major player in European security regimes. Counter-terrorism, in targeting the Kurdish community not just in Britain but across Europe, is a practice of counter-insurgency, satisfying the bureaucratic, discursive, military and diplomatic needs of a number of political players – while providing the illusion of a state interested in the protection of its citizens and residents.