Tiny Minority of Extremists Alert. "Terror threat in UK 'approaching critical'," by Duncan Gardham for the Telegraph, October 2:
The threat level is at the "severe end of severe" according to sources who say the level of "chatter" among terrorist cells has increased in recent months.
The security services say they are now operating at full stretch to counter the elevated threat.
Britain's close relationship with the US has been particularly inflammatory after cross-border raids into Pakistan by American forces.
Security officials had considered downgrading the official threat level from "severe" but that plan has now been abandoned as a result of the increase in terrorist activity.
A senior counter terrorism source said: "We were looking at the threat level six months ago and asking how severe is severe? But it is October now and we are at the severe end of severe.
"Al-Qaeda's core exists on the Afghan-Pakistan border. The arrangement of people changes at a frighteningly rapid pace but they have enough people to replace them and there are people who are looking at us and at external operations, some at this country in particular.
"We are not chasing shadows. These are potential threats to security and life. Police and the security network are operating at full capacity."
The source said a review by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which looks at information from MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, had considered downgrading the threat from "severe," meaning an attack is highly likely, to "substantial," meaning an attack is a strong possibility, but that move was abandoned after the level of activity increased.
The assessment, which has five levels, has been considered severe since the arrest of the men allegedly plotting to attack transatlantic airliners in 2006 but moved up to "critical," meaning an attack is imminent, during last year's car bomb alert which led to the attack on Glasgow airport.
It is now only just below that level.
MI5 is watching around 200 networks across Britain and MI6 and GCHQ are constantly monitoring communications on the crucial Afghan-Pakistan border area.
Although key commanders have been killed in air strikes, one of the particular concerns is the disappearance of Rashid Rauf from Birmingham, an alleged al-Qaeda mastermind who escaped from Pakistani custody last December.
Security officials are also worried about threats which may come from off the radar.
They are particularly worried by lone operators who "self-radicalise" over the internet and stock-pile chemicals from domestic sources.
"They are discreet from traditional networks and have a very small intelligence signature which makes them hard to pick up," the source said.
There is also a fear that some in the Somali community in Britain could have "potential connections" with al-Qaeda terrorists.
Last week's attack on the US embassy in the Yemen means security officials now consider the Arabian peninsular "particularly combustible."
"Over the past year, al-Qaeda has invested huge energy in outlying organisations," the source said.
That's not exactly "imploding."
But it is the lone operators who pose the biggest threat, particularly since attempts to cut off the supply of "kitchen chemicals" used in home made bombs, such as hydrogen peroxide and ammonium nitrate, have been unsuccessful because they are so widely available.
"We are doing a lot of research work into the detection of explosives at train stations and so on but this really demonstrates the importance of preventing radicalisation," the source said.
But as long as officials are unwilling to engage the ideology behind the "radicalization," they will not be doing everything they could to prevent attacks.
"MI5 is watching around 200 networks across Britain..."
This is with an estimated 1.5 million Muslim immigrants, their children and their grand-children.
How many networks will MI5 have to monitor when that number swells to 5 million and then 10, as it surely will over the next 20 years?
Europe is a goner.
When a WMD attack finally occurs as it most certainly will and hundreds if not thousands die, politicians, pundits and the people will all express their righteous indignation...and then, with the passage of weeks, the terms for an unofficial surrender will be negotiated. Muslim groups like the MCB will be brought into Britain's inner circle like never before, ostensibly to help the British fight against extremism, but in reality, to help calibrate the new policies of abject appeasement that will define the future of Britain.
It's so predictable.
Why should innocent Britons put up with the likes of this? Could anyone declare mass immigration of Muslims is a success? Think. Think. Think. I know it's hard for asshats.
if our security angencies, governments, etc...do not address the root causes of islamic terrorism then we'll always be monitoring terror networks
"MI5 is watching around 200 networks across Britain"
That certainly doesn't seem enough to warrant a "severe" rating watch. Why not allow 200 more cells to freely operate within GB's borders?
Not too long ago...7 Germans captured on Long Island....was reason enough for quick executions and a lesson to anyone else thinking about espionage. Come on Brits...suffer like the fools that you are with dignity.
Your joking right? Critical mass is 18-22% population when civil war begins. Muslims are only 3% in Britain even now. If a nation cannot handle 3% muslims there must be something seriously wrong with it. India and Isreal both have ~16% islamic pop and neither will be in critical state for at least 20 years.
My understanding is that Britain will become a Nazi state long before it becomes an Islamist one, and you might want to think about that.
"We are not chasing shadows. These are potential threats to security and life. Police and the security network are operating at full capacity."
If the "potential threat" is not just a "shadow",they should be arresting or at the least be interrogating these "networks"
Provoke and Expose...
MI5 is watching around 200 networks across Britain.."
What does that cost? How many tens of billions is the Western world now spending to monitor Muslims in their midst, when the future promises, if nothing drastic is done, tens of millions more to monitor in the same, budget-draining way -- tens of millions who themselves have much higher rates of unemployment and incarceration for crimes, and who exploit to the fullest every possible benefit the generous taxpayers of the Infidel nation-states provide, to people who never paid into the system, have no loyalty to the state, and would, if they could, change the legal and political institutions so that they accorded with the Shari'a.
Why is not Muslim immigration halted at once? Why is not Saudi and other Arab money seized, if it comes in to the country to build up a Muslim colony in what Muslims hope will one day be a Muslim state, with every obstacle to the spread, and the dominance, of Islam removed, seized so that it cannot be used, as it has been used without any effective checking, to pay for mosques, madrasas, Muslim pressure groups, academic centers run of, by, and for apologists for Islam, and a small army of Western hirelings, including journalists, businessmen, and others, who work on behalf of Saudi Arabia, other rich Gulf Arabs, and of course, for Islam, Islam, Islam.
'The sun never sets on the British empire'...
That was then, this is now...The British sun is setting in the muddy spring called Islam.
Soon it will completely submerge...Allah willing, and he always is...
My understanding is that Britain will become a Nazi state long before it becomes an Islamist one, and you might want to think about that.
Posted by: infidel_hindu at October 2, 2008 9:51 PM
What? So, where did you get this "understanding?"
Way way off topic:
please look extensively into "ONE.org".
just saw ad after Palin victory, went to site, no attribution, one world poverty initiative. think CAIR.
d.
This should come as no surprise after the ruling that Islamic law can be implementeted as long as it does not conflict with English law.
I would expect the situation to continue to deteriorate.
My understanding is that Britain will become a Nazi state long before it becomes an Islamist one, and you might want to think about that.
Posted by: infidel_hindu at October 2, 2008 9:51 PM
What? So, where did you get this "understanding?"
Posted by: darcy
Darcy, I just love you! Your spunk and on target posts are inspiring. Hugs, girlfriend!! Keep us the freedom fight, too!
Winston Churchill on Islam
The River War | 1899 | Sir Winston Churchill
How dreadful are the curses which Mohammedanism lays on its votaries! Besides the fanatical frenzy, which is as dangerous in a man as hydrophobia in a dog, there is this fearful fatalistic apathy.
The effects are apparent in many countries. Improvident habits, slovenly systems of agriculture, sluggish methods of commerce, and insecurity of property exist wherever the followers of the Prophet rule or live.
A degraded sensualism deprives this life of its grace and refinement; the next of its dignity and sanctity. The fact that in Mohammedan law every woman must belong to some man as his absolute property, either as a child, a wife, or a concubine, must delay the final extinction of slavery until the faith of Islam has ceased to be a great power among men.
Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities, but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it.
No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilization of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilization of ancient Rome.
Actually what I meant was that Brits are not cowards and will resist Islamization, in case major political parties are unwilling to tackle this they will take action in their own hands and vote for extremist parties ( who are willing to tackle Islam ). This is already happening with BNP in Britain.
On the Joe Biden/Sarah Palin debate tonight, Biden said in reference to more forces in Afghanistan "...get bin Laden and destroy Al Qaeda.." or words to that effect.
How would capturing bin Laden get us any closer to destroying Al Qaeda? Some sub-captain of bin Laden's would surely step in within minutes of his capture and pick up the reins.
To me, Al Qaeda (and all Islamic terrorist groups) is like a many-headed snake, which when you chop off one head, another grows in its place. And it's not just a single snake; it's multi-headed snakes scattered around the globe.
For a politician at this level to misunderstand the problem explains why the U.K. is "at the severe end of severe" in terms of threat level. Nobody in politics is listening. Nobody is learning. What do we have to do, to wake them up?
"For a politician at this level to misunderstand the problem explains why the U.K. is "at the severe end of severe" in terms of threat level. Nobody in politics is listening. Nobody is learning. What do we have to do, to wake them up?"
Posted by Corax
Corax, may I submit to you that there will be no "waking them up". Given what has happened the world over in the last 20 years with respect to Islam, those who are not awake and investigating/learning, like so many here, REFUSE TO LEARN OR CHANGE. You must resign yourself to protecting yourself and your loved ones, even if they don't believe you.
This may even include guiding the terrorists toward those very politicians who refuse to listen.
Make donations to Israel in their name and publicize it. Hand out pamphlets which inflame the muslim senses, with all arrows pointing toward your cowardly and traitorous leaders.
The way you avoid being killed by a drunk driver, after you have reported him to numerous authorities who refuse to take action, is to make sure the drunk driver drives drunk on your local mayors' street and not yours. This included handing out free booze on your politicians' street-corner. Let THEM get their legs and pelvis crushed in a horrific DUI/Pedestrian accident. Sounds harsh, but those who wish to survive will know what to do.
""We are not chasing shadows. These are potential threats to security and life. Police and the security network are operating at full capacity.""
I think their job would be easier if they simply put all Muslims in the UK under equal suspicion.
I agree with Infidel Hindu - I now vote BNP as I can't see any other political party doing anything to stop the islamization of England except them. I know many people who are also moving toward voting BNP.
You have to fight fire with fire and believe me, the British Bulldog won't lie down for anyone or anything!!
'From the chatter being detected among suspected potential terrorists an attack is very likely in the UK'.
Those who are waiting for a takeover by the BNP to save them from a Muslim threat will wait forever. Although the BNP are doing very well at local government level, they will never be in power in the UK. The British public would never agree to it and, in any case, it would take many years to even match the strength of the Liberal party.
I agree with another commentator who said that we have to get the threat into perspective. Non-Muslims overwhelmingly outnumber Muslims in the UK by 58-Million to 2-Million. It is true that a terrorist acting alone can cause a lot of damage but we have been there before during the bombing of cities by the IRA and the intensity of that campaign outweighs anything Muslims have so far been able to throw at us. In fact more recently the Muslim 'campaign' has been ineffective and their plots exposed before damage was done. Unlike the IRA, who were a formidable enemy, Muslims appear rather stupid and ignorant of whom they up against. They also forget that not so long ago we fought the might of the German army and endured bombing on a daily basis. It makes Muslim efforts appear inconsequential.
Don't worry folks. Shove your heads in the sand and just keep voting for the "mainstream" parties. Then watch as your income tax deduction creeps up and up to fund the expanding security effort. Mind you, the career opportunities in the security services will be amazing and we'll need lots of Muslims to help too. Just wait until covert jihadists get jobs at MI5 or GCHQ. Then we'll be phurqued.
infidel_hindu:
My understanding is that Britain will become a Nazi state long before it becomes an Islamist one, and you might want to think about that.
Where have you been hiding? Not heard of the EUSSR project? The plan is for a communist federal Europe consisting of regions. England will be split up into 9 regions (or "socialist republics" to give them their more accurate name). Power will be concentrated in Brussels with diminishing power in the former European nations. All the UK's "mainstream" parties agree with the plan.
National - or rather, regional - elections will count for very little, if we have any. They'll be like voting for your local district council. They'll clean up dogshit on the pavement and grant planning permission for your garden shed but that will be about it.
Tommo:
I agree with another commentator who said that we have to get the threat into perspective.
It only takes one plot - even a failed one like the liquid bombs on planes - to inconvenience millions. Why should we put up with that?
[Muslims terrorists] also forget that not so long ago we fought the might of the German army and endured bombing on a daily basis
Back then we were a cohesive nation with a pro-British government. Now we have disparate communities and ghettos consisting of economic migrants who are only here for the money. Our leaders are pro-multiculturalism, pro-Islamic and pro-European.
Back then kids played in the street, climbed trees and walked to school in the rain. Now too many kids (and adults) are flabby, ignorant, pampered softies who travel everywhere by car, with no interests beyond their mobile phones, their computers, their iPods, their Nintendo DSs and their TV "celebrities".
Unlike the IRA, who were a formidable enemy, Muslims appear rather stupid and ignorant of whom they up against.
Err ... 9/11? Think it couldn't happen here too? The IRA (bless 'em) used to give warnings about bomb attacks and they never used suicide bombing as a tactic. Jihadists don't play by any such rules. They don't care who they kill or how.
@Tommo
BNP don't need to get into government to win... they just need to get enough votes to get a few seats in government. Then there will be an anti-Muslim voice in politics...
Of course, every other politician will hate them and avoid them like the plague... but the fact is, many people, like myself WANT to hear SOMEONE (especially a politician) fighting against the Islmization of the UK and Europe. If voting BNP is the price... so be it.
Tommo posted: They also forget that not so long ago we fought the might of the German army and endured bombing on a daily basis. It makes Muslim efforts appear inconsequential.
One huge difference, Tommo, was back then you didn't have the Germans living amonst you smiling to your face and plotting your demise behind your back.
Good point, Abu_Lahab. In World War II we knew who the enemy was and where to find them. They certainly weren't living next door. And because they attacked with bombs and guns it was mandatory to resist immediately or die.
Islamification is by stealth. Our lives are not necessarily at risk - apart from the occasional successful attack by those who have been born and raised in our own neighbourhoods but whose allegiances are elsewhere - so our natural urge to resist isn't triggered so easily.
But then we'll wake up one day and find that we've been conquered without a fight.
Darcy, I just love you! Your spunk and on target posts are inspiring. Hugs, girlfriend!! Keep us the freedom fight, too!
Posted by: champ at October 2, 2008 11:42 PM
Wow! What a wonderful message to wake-up to!
Same to you, champ, all of the above! Love your "spunk," too - just like Palin's last night!
It’s abundantly clear to us all here that the Islamization of Britain and indeed Europe proceeds at an increasingly rapid and alarming pace, (much more so than in America?)
It is also equally clear that our political class are at best too stupid to take action against this, or as seems even more likely, are actively encouraging it.
Granted, the Islamic colony in Britain does represent a fairly small percentage of the overall population of the country. However, it only takes a small percentage, of a small percentage, of the colonists, to launch a large-scale and potentially devastating attack, as has been seen before.
The repercussions of another such an attack could have two outcomes. Either forcing the ruling elite to jump through even more hoops for the Islamists in a futile effort to prevent more of the same, or to finally rouse the 'Infidel' population into such a state of fury that a robust approach towards dealing with Fundamentalist Islam and its doctrines, becomes the norm.
As we have been told countless times, by the intelligence and police community, it is not if, but when, another attack occurs.
Unfortunately, given the lacklustre response of our political masters, after just such a terrorist outrage, and the continuing complacency of the population, I fear that the former outcome is more likely.
Stefcho
A handful of BNP politicians in parliament will not change anything. In fact they will be sidelined, never be called to speak or voice an opinion and generally will be treated as pariahs.
I hasten to say I am not against the BNP who have more than once highlighted Muslim aggression and oppression in mainly the Midlands area. Needless to say, although they raised valid causes for police action, nothing was done.
British people are wary of the BNP and, although many sympathise with their stance against the spread of Islam, no-one really knows what monster may appear once in power. After Muslims have been disposed of - who would be next?
After Muslims have been disposed of - who would be next?
Posted by: Tommo at October 3, 2008 10:51 AM
Unless something is done about the Mohammedans, there's not going to be any "next," understand?
First things first.
Abu_Lahab
'One huge difference, Tommo, was back then you didn't have the Germans living amonst you smiling to your face and plotting your demise behind your back'.
True but we felt the power of a mighty enemy that wanted to crush us. By comparison a handful of Jihadis looks fairly laughable.
In the UK we know our enemy by sight. We know where our enemy lives and prays. They cannot hide easily from us. Our surveillance techniques since 9/11 have improved out of sight.
Every plot Muslims have hatched since 7/7 has been thwarted. Some plots we know about and others we don't. Our prisons are full of Muslim no hopers, which in itself is causing other problems with radicalisation and recruitment of prisoners.
Muslims may well be plotting our demise behind our back but smiling? I don't think so I have rarely seen them happy about anything.
"Why should innocent Britons put up with the likes of this?"
Not to poke at the Brits (the West in general is more like it) but innocent? I think not. We voted for our governments and these are the people that make these sorts of things happen once in office. So we put people in power over our society that are NOT, IMHO, making the right decisions. Easily fixed right? Just vote people most likely to make right decisions. HAHAHA Check out the US elections if you believe that.
Two friends of mine, Deans of the Political Science School at major universities, put it best. PoliSci has only one hard and fast rule, "People get the government they deserve".
I am confident that most people visiting Jihad Watch have read Steyn's book "America Alone". It is truly a numbers game. What interesting times, in a Chinese sort of way, we live in.
Ancient Chinese curse, "May you live in interesting times".
Lan astalem,
GoingThere
Dear all,
I've been reading all of the above posts and there are some very good points.
As much as I agree with the BNP policies, I don't agree with the BNP. I find them to be a very amateurish political movement that really are incapable of running their own party.
On numerous occasions I've written to them via email and not one person has ever replied. I have been on their website and many of their contact numbers came back with dead tones or an answering machine of the same voice from an elderly male who sounds like he recorded it in a garden shed. I am still waiting for my password to be able to post on the forum, I tried to join over 6 months ago. Last but not least, after eventually getting through to a number, I was polite but did complain slightly about the dead numbers, answering machine etc only to be replied to with "I'm not going to listen to someone whinging down the ph..." at which point I hung up.
The BNP have good policies, but unfortunately will remain a Fringe movement. I have considered voting for them, but from my experiences of late, I really have no desire to. It means I'm stumped with a party to vote for. I have thought of starting my own but then that takes time AND money. So the only other option for me really is to do what I'm currently doing, save up my pennies and sink the sinking ship....Which leads me on to my next point.
I am considering leaving the UK for the simple reason that the Anti Islam movement is really only happening in the 40+ and above(on average) age groups. The youth of today, part of the NuLabour socialist experiment, do not see Islam as a threat. They have grown up with them in school and see them as no different to Non Muslims. This was the plan of Islam, to associate with the Kufar and get them to not see you as a threat and this will give them a smokescreen until the numbers are higher.
The youth of today, do not know, thanks to a pathetic Anti British, NuLabour Education system, that has successfully indoctrinated our youngest generation into being pro Europe and MultiCulturalism, about the true dangers they are experiencing.
The War against Islam will be a war against Islam AND the left and in 50+ years, that will be the majority of the people in the UK. Socialism, thanks to Communism, is winning in the UK and I think many people can see it.
The future, really looks bleak for those who are proud of who they are and being British as not only are we facing cultural destruction but also civil war against our own people, brainwashed by Socialism/Communism.
Many people try to bring back the Battles of the past with Great Britain and Watling makes the very good point that not only did we not have the enemy in our own backyard then, but our governments were Pro British and for the people of the UK before any other.
Other points regarding the 3% population(2 million) Muslims, are unfortunately wrong as there are nearly 5 million Muslims in the UK if not more and that's 12%, four times as many people believe. Islam is growing and growing and growing at an exceptionally speed, thanks to NuLabour, Liberal and Tory support.
People here continually try to separate Islam into 'good and bad' when unfortunately, that's impossible. They listen to the teachings of Muhammad, follow their Nation of Islam and that too is their culture.
There really is only one way to stop Islamisation and that's to bring back the armed forces from Afghanistan and Iraq and immediately start removing ALL Muslim from the UK, regardless of positions, starting with Lord Ahmed and other Muslim Peers as well as all those Muslims in positions of power in the UK. Send them to Bangladesh and Pakistan or else they will breed and grow and breed until the UK is majority wise Muslim.
It's a very logical situation. The situation with Islam is no more different than being in charge of a refugee camp, when there has been an outbreak of a dangerous virus. Upon a group of refugees, one thousand or so coming to stay, you have the choice to:
1. Let them in an pollute the camp with the Virus
2. Disallow them, leading to their deaths but the saving of many more inside the camp.
It is impossible to live in a country with tolerant people, if you allow an intolerant religion/culture/nation in that wants to take over.
You can be compassionate and think about Ahmed who works across the room in the office, or Salema who lives across the road, but when Ahmed's and Salema's children's children are armed to the teeth, and baying for blood because Non Muslims are eating through Ramadan at their workplace, many years down the line, then your future generations will ask "Why didn't out ancestors stop the growth of Islam and worse still, allow this intolerant Wicked Faith to remain here"?
The time to do something about Islam is now while it's relatively small, because if it grows more (and it will) then you will be powerless. City Centres will turn into bomb sites as Islamists rule the streets, with feral Muslim Gangs doing whatever they want.
The really sad thing is that our Liberal Elite and Media are unable to look into the future and see what will happen, when they have information upon information of other countries, now Islamist that used to be free.
Tommo,
Your description of a "handful of jihadists" as "pretty laughable" is part of the problem. YOU think there are a handful. They represent the tip of the iceberg. The danger is in underestimating them.
If surveillance techniques, particularly since 9/11, were so great then how did 7/7 ever happen? They couldn't have been THAT great. Every plot SINCE 7/7 has been averted but you also say that there are plots you don't know about.
"In the UK we know our enemy by sight. We know where our enemy lives and prays. They cannot hide easily from us. Our surveillance techniques since 9/11 have improved out of sight."
They don't have to hide. They live in plain sight and they are not only tolerated but welcomed. They are supported by British taxpayers. How is it that abu hamza or anyone like him is even allowed to live in Britain?
Unless MI5 is in not just every mosque, but every market, stall, home, bathroom, bedroom, they are not under surveillance. Bombs can be put together with normal household items.
The danger is in dismissing them as "just a few jihadists". It doesn't take that many to bring chaos to open societies.
From the article:
"Security officials are also worried about threats which may come from off the radar.
"They are particularly worried by lone operators who "self-radicalise" over the internet and stock-pile chemicals from domestic sources.
'"They are discreet [sic: discrete?] from traditional networks and have a very small intelligence signature which makes them hard to pick up," the source said."
Do you know what that means?
It means that the jihad-aware Islamosavvy ordinary citizen - the ticket collector, the bus driver, the inquisitive little old lady peering from behind her lace curtains, the parish priest or rabbi who has read Mr Spencer or Bat Yeor or Andrew Bostom, the Sergeant Plod who has quietly read Mr Spencer's books during his off-duty hours and found that they make sense of the behaviour of the 'Asian [Muslim] youths' who swagger through the streets of his town, the dog-walker, gamekeeper, bird-watcher who observes 'something funny' happening out on the moors, the receptionist or cleaner who notices someone 'odd' scoping out the public building where she works, the person who owns a hardware shop and notices peculiar purchases of certain types of items in significant amounts - is Britain's first, last, and only line of defence against such 'lone operators'.
Seems to me that UK jihadwatchers just have to keep on trying to increase the number of Islamosavvy citizens.