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UK terror threat of 100 British Muslims fighting in Iraq war
Last updated at 22:37pm on 06.01.07
A secret list of young Britons who have left to join the Iraqi terrorists' cause has been drawn up by MI5.
Now the security service is preparing for a 'backwash' of highly trained guerrilla fighters returning to Britain.
It fears the group will form a new hardcore of terrorist recruiters similar to jailed cleric Abu Hamza, who came back from fighting in Afghanistan to preach hatred at the Finsbury Park mosque.
Whitehall sources say MI5 has a 'working figure' of 50 known British recruits involved in Iraqi terror attacks against coalition forces - but the true figure is likely to be double that number because of the difficulty in tracking movements in and out of Iraq.
"Immigration officials in Britain and across Europe are being warned to be on the lookout for returning fighters,' the source said.
"These people have knowledge of weapons and are prepared to use them. They are also potential recruiters for a new generation of terrorists."
Reader views (3)
Charge with treason, imprison.
And also congratulate the many millions of good muslims who didnt go.
- Santosh Krishnan, glasgow,UK
How strong is the National and political resolve? If they are British and fighting against British armed forces in a war zone, they commit treason. If they are known, refuse them entry into the UK and like other nations inconvenienced by such people, withdraw British citizenship.
- Roy Gilbert, Solihull, England
I would certainly hope that any British citizen who is found to have fought against British forces will be charged with treason. They shouldn’t think for one minute that they can then just come back to the UK and enjoy the democratic freedoms and rights of a free society, when they have fought against it.
- Robert Barker, London, UK
