UK monitoring 3,000 ISIS suspects: Report

Image
Press Trust of India London
Last Updated : Sep 18 2015 | 7:57 PM IST
Britain's security agencies and anti-terror police are monitoring around 3,000 UK-based extremists of dreaded Islamic state militant group, ready to carry out attacks in the county, according to media reports.
British men and women, many in their teens, are being radicalised to the point of violence within weeks, security sources told 'The Times'.
Although more than half of Islamists on terrorist watch lists live in London, especially in the capital's east and west, there are other hotspots in the southeast, West Midlands and Manchester, the paper reported.
The new analysis of terror activity suggests that the number of violent suspects being monitored has risen by more than 50 per cent since 2007, when the security agencies had a list of 2,000 people seen as active supporters of Al Qaeda.
The number has surged in the past two years with the rise of Islamic State in Syria. Most of those under suspicion have never been to Syria but have fallen under the influence of the organisation's online propaganda.
Around 1,000 Britons are thought to have joined jihadist groups in Syria, 300 have returned and 70 have been killed fighting in Syria and Iraq since 2011.
The scale of the UK-based threat was also highlighted yesterday by MI5 director-general Andrew Parker who said intelligence officials had foiled six plots in the past year.
Parker told BBC: "Most of the people who try to become involved in terrorism in this country are people who were born and brought up here, have come through our education system, and have nonetheless concluded that the country - their home country and the country of their birth - is their enemy.
*Subscribe to Business Standard digital and get complimentary access to The New York Times

Smart Quarterly

₹900

3 Months

₹300/Month

SAVE 25%

Smart Essential

₹2,700

1 Year

₹225/Month

SAVE 46%
*Complimentary New York Times access for the 2nd year will be given after 12 months

Super Saver

₹3,900

2 Years

₹162/Month

Subscribe

Renews automatically, cancel anytime

Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans

Exclusive premium stories online

  • Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors

Complimentary Access to The New York Times

  • News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic

Business Standard Epaper

  • Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share

Curated Newsletters

  • Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox

Market Analysis & Investment Insights

  • In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor

Archives

  • Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997

Ad-free Reading

  • Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements

Seamless Access Across All Devices

  • Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app

More From This Section

First Published: Sep 18 2015 | 7:57 PM IST

Next Story