The theories that will occupy security forces after Woolwich – Media roundup: May 23rd, 2013

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Woolwich – the theories that will occupy security forces

“Counter-terrorism officers and security officials will doubtless fear that Woolwich fits into the category of crime that they can do little to thwart; random, lone-wolf, unsophisticated attacks, conducted by people who are not on the radar of the police or MI5. The spectrum in which investigators will be working now is broad, and the characters within it unstable and unpredictable. In the immediate aftermath of the attack in south London, detectives might have been reluctant to tell the home secretary, Theresa May, conclusively that this was the work of jihadists, but as the hours passed any doubts must have evaporated. The language attributed to one of the men filmed at the scene, and brandishing a bloodied knife, was stark: “We swear by almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you. The only reasons we have done this is because Muslims are dying every day. This British soldier is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. We must fight them.”” – Guardian

MPs critical of “alternative” press charter

“A majority of MPs on the House of Commons specialist media committee have written to the Privy Council to protest over the press industry’s proposals for its future regulation. Six members of the Media, Culture & Sport committee have reacted angrily to the newspaper industry’s submission of its own Royal Charter on press regulation in April, in place of another charter agreed to by Parliament. The MPs – five Labour and one Liberal Democrat – have told the Privy Council that they regard Parliament’s charter as “a better prospect for effective self-regulation which is both independent of the Press and of Government”. – Independent

Other highlights

• Eric Joyce arrested again – Daily Mail
• We have a Presidential system (minus the President) – Steve Richards, Independent
• Could Tuition Fees be limited to £6,000? – BBC