Posted on 03/22/2013 3:41:34 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Officers also fear a hybrid of terrorist and criminal gangs could bring a new threat on the UK.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Osborne warned that the country is facing the most complex terror threat in its history.
He said the threat is constantly changing with al-Qaeda inspired Islamic extremists now plotting in smaller, harder to detect groups.
The danger is coming from an increasing number of hot spots around the world and there is also a growing threat from republican groups in Northern Ireland, who would attack mainland Britain if they could.
Mr Osborne, who is the senior national coordinator for counter terrorism, said: “On average we've probably had about one potential attack planned with an intent to create something similar to July 7 every year.
"The UK threat as we stand today remains at substantial, which means that a terrorist attack remains a strong possibility and could occur without warning."
Last month, three men were convicted of planning to kill hundreds of people in the UK with up to eight suicide bombers after concluding the 7/7 attacks had “not done enough damage”.
And in 2006 a plot to blow up passenger jets with bombs disguised as soft drinks was foiled but led to tighter restrictions for carry on luggage.
Mr Osborne, who is senior national coordinator for counter-terrorism, said he fears that terror cells could either team up with organised crime gangs or mirror their practices, bringing a new kind of threat to the UK.
He also echoed concerns that an increasing number of Britons are exploiting unrest abroad to receive terror training before returning home.
Syria is the biggest destination now and the fear is those taking part will form small independent cells once back rather than become part of a major plot.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
It’s almost like the police want the gangs and the terrorists to team up and commit attacks. They could then further crack down on civil liberties.
It’s almost like the police want the gangs and the terrorists to team up and commit attacks. They could then further crack down on civil liberties.
UK will eventually lose. Too much rot from the inside to sustain the rot from the outside.
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