Places of worship will have their own security programme to protect them from far-right extremists such as Pavlo Lapshyn who planted bombs near three British mosques

Racist myths perpetrated by the far right are to be challenged online by Theresa May’s government as part of a £60 million battle against extremism to be launched by the advertising giant M&C Saatchi.

Anti-hate speech experts say that the Home Office will bring the battle against propaganda directly to the ground occupied by the “alt-right” movement by using social media.

The menace to Britain from continental Europe’s growing far-right movement is being monitored by a secretive anti-subversion section of Whitehall, The Times can disclose.

Mosques needing protection from far-right extremists are likely to be key beneficiaries from a £2 million security programme for places of worship.

The extent of the May government’s crackdown on right-wing extremism was disclosed by Whitehall sources in response to