Indian-origin officer appointed Scotland Yard's new counter-terrorism chief

London:  Senior Indian-origin Scotland Yard officer Neil Basu has been appointed as the counter-terrorism chief, an official statement said on Tuesday.

Basu, currently the Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner, will be promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner for Specialist Operations.

He will take charge as the force's National Lead for Counter Terrorism (CT) and the Head of the Met Police's Specialist Operations following the resignation of incumbent Mark Rowley on March 21.

Basu, whose father is of Indian origin, said "it is a privilege to be asked to join the management board of the Met and to lead for CT policing at such a point in our history. It is both a challenge and a duty that I accept with humility and a sense of great purpose."

"I will lead to the best of my ability, the most extraordinary people I have ever worked with as they work night and day to counter terrorism," he said in a statement.