Terror threat to Britain from the Arab Spring: UK extremists travelling to Al Qaeda training camps says MI5 chief
The chaos caused by the Arab Spring has created new terrorist training camps for jihadis intent on attacking Britain, the head of MI5 warned last night.
In a rare public speech, Jonathan Evans said extremists were travelling from Britain to undergo instruction by Al Qaeda. It is understood the destinations include Libya, which is still in some turmoil after the British government helped to topple Colonel Gaddafi, and Syria.
Mr Evans, director general of the security service, said of the would-be jihadis: ‘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.
Several hundred Britons are understood to have gone abroad for jihadi training – with the Arab world taking over from Pakistan and Afghanistan as bases for Al Qaeda-linked groups. Security officials point to the fact the Arab Spring has led to the collapse of the security regime in countries such as Libya.
That has yet to be fully replaced and Al Qaeda has seized the opportunity to set up training camps.
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