Donald Trump calls for terrorists’ internet to be ‘cut off’ after London explosion

US President Donald Trump has tweeted that terrorists’ internet should be “cut off” and “use[d] better” in the wake of an explosion in London that saw dozens injured.

Loser terrorists must be dealt with in a much tougher manner.The internet is their main recruitment tool which we must cut off & use better!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 15, 2017

“The internet is [terrorists’] main recruitment tool which we must cut off & use better!” he tweeted.

A homemade explosive caught fire in a tube station Friday morning, injuring 18 people who were taken to hospital in non-critical condition.

We have taken 18 patients to a number of London hospitals. None are thought to be in a serious or life-threatening condition #ParsonsGreenpic.twitter.com/3B13JznAqZ

— London Ambulance (@Ldn_Ambulance) September 15, 2017

During the last attack in London, Trump criticised Mayor Sadiq Khan for urging his constituents to remain calm. This time, he’s taken aim at online platforms that allow for communication between terrorists and potential recruiters.

Trump did not offer any policy plans, and instead went on to promote his proposed travel ban and critique “political correctness”.

The US president isn’t the first to call on stricter internet regulations in the wake of an attack. In June, UK Prime Minister Theresa May called the Internet a “safe space [terrorism] needs to breathe”.

Later that month, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and YouTube forged an anti-terror group, where they could share their knowledge to limit terrorist content on their platforms.

Feature image: Mark Taylor via Flickr (CC BY 2.0, resized)