## Police Defend Pre-Attack Checks on Alexander Dighton, Jailed for Life Over Terrorist Incident at Welsh Police Station
A year prior to the shocking attack on officers outside Talbot Green Police Station, Alexander Dighton, now convicted of anti-Islam terrorism, had been assessed by counter-terror officers—and found not to be a threat at the time. The revelation comes as police and court officials face scrutiny over whether more could have been done to prevent the brutal events that unfolded in January 2025.
Dighton, 28, from Pontyclun, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 22 years after launching a violent assault on police officers using Molotov cocktails, a hatchet and an improvised weapon. The attack left one officer unconscious and another stabbed in the leg, while other officers were threatened or injured by the assailant during the rampage.
The scale and intent of the attack, prosecutors argued, were unmistakably linked to Dighton’s extremist ideology. He had earlier pleaded guilty to ten charges, including attempted murder and attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent. The court heard that he claimed he had not considered the extent of the potential destruction, stating simply in interview, “blood had to be spilt”.
Crucially, it emerged during the trial that Dighton had previously been referred to the anti-terrorism Prevent programme by his own sister over concerns about his racist, anti-Muslim beliefs and possible involvement in so-called ‘incel’ communities. However, after a thorough three-week assessment in early 2024—which included interviews and background checks—police determined he did not meet the threshold for ongoing intervention.
Senior officers have spoken up to defend their actions at the time. Detective Superintendent Andrew Williams, who led the investigation post-attack, emphasised that while Dighton displayed “strong anti-Government, anti-immigration, anti-Islam” sentiments, there had been no indication during assessments that he planned violence. “It is very difficult to speculate on what radicalised him,” Williams said. “There was no cause for concern at the time. He only formulated his plan to attack a month before the incident.”
Williams further revealed the Prevent scheme, which is underpinned by thousands of referrals each year, requires careful prioritisation. In Dighton’s case, trained officers carried out detailed checks, including interviews and examination of his online activity and associations. “Prevent has intervened successfully in many cases, but no system is infallible,” Williams reiterated, underlining the unpredictability of individual behaviour.
On the night of 31 January 2025, Dighton arrived at the Talbot Green station with clear violent intent. He attempted to ignite a police van with a petrol bomb and lighter fluid, smashed windows of vehicles, and attacked officers with a sharpened pole and a lock knife—actions described in court as “meticulously planned”. Attempts to subdue him using a Taser failed, as he wore body armour.
The court also heard that two officers required hospital treatment. All attending officers were praised by the judge for their professionalism and courage in confronting Dighton. Chief Superintendent Stephen Jones acknowledged the impact such violence has not just on public servants but their families: “Each officer is not just a public servant but also a husband, wife, or parent, and their families are undoubtedly deeply affected by incidents such as these.”
In his sentencing, Judge Mark Lucraft KC highlighted that the crimes were “clearly terrorist in nature”, stating Dighton showed little remorse apart from his early guilty plea. The judge warned of Dighton’s “entrenched views” and the deep shock his actions had caused among even the most experienced police personnel.
Meanwhile, Frank Ferguson of the Crown Prosecution Service stressed that while holding extreme views is not itself criminal, acting violently because of those beliefs is. “Dighton’s attack was not only premeditated and meticulously planned, but deeply rooted in his extremist ideology,” Ferguson explained.
In the aftermath, the case has cast fresh light on the formidable challenges faced by counter-terrorism officers in assessing threats amid rising referrals and evolving risks. The Prevent scheme, although credited with many successes, remains under intense national scrutiny as authorities continue to learn lessons from incidents such as the Talbot Green attack. For now, the police maintain that, on the facts and evidence at hand in 2024, Dighton did not present a foreseeable risk—a stance likely to be debated by policymakers and the public for some time to come.