November 5, 2007: MI5 On Growing Terror threat

MI5 Director General Jonathan Evans has outlined the threats currently faced by the UK in a speech to the Society of Editors. He defined the major security threat as al Qaida and groups related to it. Arguing that the root of that threat is an extremist ideology 'whose basic tenets are inimical to the tolerance and liberty that form the basis of our democracy', he stated that the number of known extremists within the UK who security services believe could pose a threat was increasing steadily. He continued

'In her speech this time last year, my predecessor, Eliza Manningham-Buller, pointed out that this country was facing an increasing threat from al Qaida-inspired terrorism. When she spoke, MI5 had identified around 1,600 individuals who we believed posed a direct threat to national security and public safety, because of their support for terrorism. That figure today would be at least 2,000.'

That increase could be attributed in part to good work on the part of security services, but there is also a steady flow of new recruits to the extremist cause, some of them very young. Children, he argued, should be protected from extremism in the same way they are protected from other types of exploitation

'As I speak, terrorists are methodically and intentionally targeting young people and children in this country/. They are radicalising, indoctrinating and grooming young, vulnerable people to carry out acts of terrorism. This year, we have seen individuals as young as 15 and 16 implicated in terrorist-related activity.'

He noted that Al Qaida is conducting a deliberate campaign against the UK, and its hostility towards the UK existed long before September 11, 2001. That same hostility is clear in the papers left behind by actual and would-be bombers. And it regularly forms part of Al Qaida's broadcast messages. The terrorism campaign is dynamic, and had evolved:

'It is important that we recognise an uncomfortable truth: terrorist attacks we have seen against the UK are not simply random plots by disparate and fragmented groups. The majority of these attacks, successful or otherwise, have taken place because Al Qaida has a clear determination to mount terrorist attacks against the United Kingdom. This remains the case today, and there is no sign of it reducing.'

Given al Qaida's recent expansion from Pakistan into Somalia and Algeria, he said, he does not believe the threat to the UK has peaked. The security services would do their best to prevent attacks in the UK, but alone, that is merely containment. Long-term resolution of the problem will require identifying and addressing the root causes of the threat:

 'This is not a job only for the intelligence agencies and police. It requires a collective effort in which Government, faith communities and wider civil society have an important part to play.'

Success would begin when people reject violent extremist ideology. And that, he said, will not happen overnight:

'We know that the strategic thinking of our enemies is long-term. But public discourse in the UK works to a much shorter timescale - whether the electoral cycle or the media deadline. We cannot view this challenge in such timescales. If we only react tactically while our enemies plan strategically, we shall be hard put to win this. A key part of our strategy must be perseverance.'

The full speech is available for download.