Britain's secret services thwarted 34 terrorist plots since 7/7 bombings

Britain's secret services M15 have foiled 34 terrorist plots since the July 7 London bombings in 2005.

MI5 director general Andrew Parker made the revelation while speaking in an unprecedented joint appearance before Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee.

According to the Daily Express, Parker said there are thousands of people living in Britain who support al Qaida.

The head of MI6 Sir John Sawers warned the threat of terrorist attacks against Britain is increasing.

Asked how concerned he was about terrorist tourism, Parker told the committee that the threat has grown recently and is growing at the moment, because of Syria, the report said.

He said that Syria has become a very attractive place for people to go for that reason - those who support or sympathise with the al Qaida ideological message.

He added that hundreds of people from Britain had gone to Syria for a long time and come back and get involved in fighting.

The committee members, which include former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Lord Butler, author of a report into use of intelligence leading up to the 2003 Iraq war, also questioned the heads of the security agencies on cyber crime, nuclear threats and use of torture against terror suspects, the report said.

Both Parker and Sir John insisted that the security agencies would not pursue any leads against potential terrorist plots, which would involve the torture or mistreatment of suspects, it added.