Interesting information here about Britain and Pakistan. “Security services identify 700 potential al-Qa’ida terrorists at large in Britain,” from the Independent, with thanks to Sr. Soph:
At least 700 people suspected of being involved in al-Qa’ida terrorist plots have been identified by MI5 and the police, The Independent understands.
There has been a threefold increase in the number of terror suspects identified by the security service, MI5, since the 11 September attacks in the United States in 2001, security sources have disclosed….
A report by the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee will find no evidence that MI5 or MI6 could have prevented the attacks by a team of British terrorists. The report will raise several questions over the effectiveness of Britain’s anti-terrorist operations. It will suggest that intelligence-sharing between Britain and Pakistan is poor, and question why the level of security alert was lowered just before the bombings….
Since the 2001 attacks in the United States, the number of identified al-Qa’ida supporters living in Britain who are considered a threat to national security has risen by 300 per cent, according to security sources. Although a total number has not been confirmed, sources have indicated that it is in the “high hundreds” and “far more” than the most recently quoted figure of 400. A Whitehall source last night put the total at “at least 700” and the police have quoted a figure of 200 in 2001. A security source said: “We are talking about radicals or plotters who would be of interest because of their potential threat to national security.
“There has been a 300 per cent increase since 9/11 in those types of individuals that we are looking at and are concerned about.”…
“The picture is changing all the time. Many of the plotters are homegrown and currently living in the UK.”…
Whitehall sources also disclosed that Islamist extremist groups in Pakistan have stepped up efforts to recruit young British Muslims visiting the country….
Despite having a large base in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, MI6 were unaware of visits to the country – and contacts with Islamist groups – by two of the suicide bombers, Khan and Shahzad Tanweer….
Could that be because of less than enthusiastic cooperation from Pakistani authorities?