MI5: Terror threat finally receding in Britain

Britain's national intelligence agency, MI5, has said that the terrorism threat posed by Al Qaeda now appears to be in decline, Reuters reports.

In the first interview ever given by a serving head of the domestic security service, MI5 chief Jonathan Evans said that the number of credible plots being disrupted by the police has finally begun falling.

With British courts convicting 86 people on terrorism charges since January 2007, he pointed to a "chilling effect on the enthusiasm of the plotters," many of whom are now "keeping their heads down".

Since the 9/11 attacks on America, intelligence chiefs have consistently stressed the gravity of jihadist threats bearing down on the UK.

In addition to the 7/7 bombings in London, which killed 52 commuters, several high-profile plots have been thwarted. Many were hatched by senior Al Qaeda members in Pakistan's lawless tribal regions.

The most high-profile incidents to date include an alleged plot (never proven) to blow up transatlantic aircraft in 2006, and an amateurish attack on Glasgow Airport and a London nightclub in 2007.

But with intelligence agencies notching up success after success in the battle to protect the mainland, Mr Evans revealed in his landmark interview that MI5 now believes the immediacy of the threat is declining.

"There have been fewer cases where terrorists have moved from facilitating and supporting terrorism to attack-planning," he told reporters.

Nonetheless, Britain has remained at its second-highest threat level - 'severe' - ever since it introduced the ranking in August 2006. After news of the aforementioned two plots broke, that level was raised to 'critical'.

Emphasising the need for citizens and security agencies to remain on guard, Mr Evans reiterated MI5's longstanding belief that there is a "seedbed of networks of extremism in the UK from where attacks could come".

He added that the current situation in the Gaza Strip is likely to embolden Al Qaeda sympathisers in Britain, and even suggested that the global financial crisis could add to the security challenges facing the UK.

"Where there have been watershed moments, there have often been national security implications from that," Mr Evans warned.

The MI5 boss concluded: "The strategic intent of the Al Qaeda core in Pakistan is to mount attacks in the UK, and their model is to use British nationals or residents to deliver the attacks."

Comments

[Lynne (weirdvis)]

If the Jihadists are keen to see the destruction of Britain all they need to do is sit back and watch Brown do it for them. If they have their heads down it's because they are laughing their beards off.

And who on earth is going to take the word of the same spook noddies who stood by and said San Ferry Ann while blatantly falsified "intelligence" was "sexed up" to create a prospectus for war.

Of course, Fate, being a very busy girl, saw one of the major proponents of the invasion of Iraq given the post of a Middle East peace envoy after he was forced to jump before he was pushed. Irony - ya gotta love it.

[Martin (riverScrap.com)]

It's very true that MI5's credibility took a hit when it propped up the dodgy intelligence dossier. And its failure to disrupt the 7/7 (and attempted 21/7) bombings will hardly have done much to restore its image.

Overall though I am inclined to listen to its assessments. Intelligence officers have, after all, stopped a number of other attacks. And I don't see any political reason for them to deliberately undermine the threat (whereas there would be a clear incentive for them to exaggerate it at times).

As far as Blair is concerned: I don't think he's such a bad chap. But good intentions aside, I sincerely doubt he's the best man for the job! (As you said, how many Arabs would back a regional plan brokered by a key architect of the Iraq War?!)

[Lynne (weirdvis)]

I'm inclined to believe that Tony Blair was happier being seen in the society pages pressing celeb flesh than actually brokering a deal benefitting this country. And when he actually WAS on the job he made a complete mess of it. Look at how he stupidly squandered Thatcher's hard won EU claw-back for starters. Need I mention the Iraq war?

The only thing going for him is that Brown has proven to be an even bigger disaster. That he actually makes Blair look good by comparison bodes ill for all of us. Sigh...