More and more Britons are heading out to the Middle East for terrorist training in groundwork for attacks in the wake of the Arab Spring, the head of MI5 has said.
Director-general of the Security Service, Jonathan Evans,advised that parts of the Arab world were becoming a more liberal and tolerant environment for al-Qaeda and Britons were going there to “seek training and opportunities for militant activity”.
Some will return to the mainland and pose a significant threat and the state of affairs“could get worse as events unfold”, he said.
It is thought that up to 200 ‘so called’British residents and nationals are presently in the Arab world and either mixed up in training camps, being radicalised or actively functional within the terror groups.
In an uncommon public speech only weeks before the Olympic Games begin in London, Mr Evans said the Arab world was in “radical transition”.
“Today parts of the Arab world have once more become a permissive environment for al-Qaeda,”he said.“A small number of British would be jihadis are also making their way to Arab countries to seek training and opportunities for militant activity, as they do in Somalia and Yemen.
“Some will return to the UK and pose a threat here.“This is a new and worrying development and could get worse as events unfold.
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