The loaded gun
"Terrorism" includes serious damage to property done to influence the government for a political cause. No injury required.
The rule
Section 1 of the Terrorism Act 2000 defines terrorism as the use or threat of action that involves serious violence against a person, serious damage to property, danger to life, a serious risk to public health or safety, or serious interference with an electronic system. The action must be designed to influence the government or an international governmental organisation, or to intimidate the public. It must also be done to advance a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.
The nuance
No one has to be hurt. Serious damage to property, done to influence the government for a political cause, meets the definition on its own.
Where firearms or explosives are involved, the 'designed to influence the government' test does not apply at all.
This wording has been in force since 2000. What has changed is how it is used: in 2025 the government relied on serious damage to property when it proscribed a direct-action protest group, and in 2026 the Court of Appeal upheld that decision.
Why it matters
The breadth of the definition decides which protest tactics can be treated as terrorism. That in turn opens the way to proscription, terrorism powers of arrest, and the support offences that follow.
History
- The Terrorism Act 2000 enacts the definition, including serious damage to property.
Sources: Terrorism Act 2000, section 1 — Terrorism: interpretation - A proscription order comes into force. The government's published reasons cite attacks involving serious damage to property.
Sources: The Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2025 · Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations - The Court of Appeal upholds the proscription.
Sources: Secretary of State for the Home Department v R (Ammori) [2026] EWCA Civ 721
Primary sources
- Terrorism Act 2000, section 1 — Terrorism: interpretation — Statutory definition of terrorism, which includes serious damage to property done to influence the government for a political, religious, racial or ideological cause.
- Proscribed terrorist groups or organisations — The government's current list of proscribed organisations with the stated reasons for each proscription. Check this before relying on any other list.
- Secretary of State for the Home Department v R (Ammori) [2026] EWCA Civ 721 — Court of Appeal allows the Home Secretary's appeal: the Divisional Court misinterpreted the Proscription Policy and erred on proportionality; the court reassesses proportionality itself and refuses permission to cross-appeal.
In the timeline
- How it works
- JUL 2025 — A protest group is proscribed as a terrorist organisation
- JUN 2026 — Court of Appeal: the ban stands
Not legal advice. Laws change; check the primary sources and speak to a lawyer about your own situation.
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