Holocaust memorial ‘is a gift to terrorists’

The proposed Holocaust memorial in Westminster faces a “perfect storm of vulnerabilities” to terrorism, warns a report by a former senior policeman .

Adrian Tudway, who was the Association of Chief Police Officers’ co-ordinator for domestic extremism, said the £102 million project in Victoria Tower Gardens would be a “high-value target” because of its location between the Palace of Westminster and MI5, and its position opposite Millbank TV studios would give the world “a front-row seat to any atrocity”. The Jewish connection would make it attractive to both right-wing terrorists and jihadists, while its location next to a busy road would make it difficult to protect.

The report was commissioned by residents opposed to the scheme. It recommends moving the site to the Imperial War Museum, south of the river. Former Detective Chief Superintendent Tudway’s report warns: “Given that both Al-Qaeda and Isis have exhorted followers to attack Jewish targets, a site of this nature is a target. Locating the memorial in Victoria Tower Gardens would be a gift to them.”

Royal Parks, Historic England, Unesco and the Environment Agency have had misgivings about the memorial, which is designed by Sir David Adjaye and Ron Arad.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We are fully aware of the security implications.”