Fly would-be jihadis to Syria, says ex-terror chief

BRITAIN should provide flights to take wouldbe jihadis to Syria rather than let them ‘fester’ in the UK, according to an ex-police chief.

Bob Quick, once the country’s most senior counter-terrorism officer, claims it might be safer to get fanatics out of the way.

He said that, in return for the Government putting on planes, the extremists would be made to hand over their passports so they could not come back.

Mr Quick said: ‘If they want to go, are we better off if they surrender their passports and go? It’s better than them festering away here. Should we say we’ll lay on charter flights to Syria, and if you are over 18, if this is the life you want, then go?’

The view of the ex-Scotland Yard assistant commissioner – who resigned after being involved in an embarrassing security leak in 2009 – is likely to strike a chord with some members of the public. However it puts him at odds with security officials who say it is naive to claim the threat ends when a fanatic leaves the country.

Evidence is emerging that some of the 350 Britons who have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight with Islamic State are trying to direct attacks in the UK.

The further up the IS chain of command they rise, the more influence it is feared they might have among past associates and fanatics who are still in Britain. Security sources say they could inspire an attack back home or potentially even attack Britons abroad.

Yesterday Tony Blair used the 7/7 anniversary to suggest there is a need to combat IS ‘on the ground’. The ex-Prime Minister said the threat was ‘not going away and will intensify in time to come’ unless the West stood up and showed it was prepared to fight.

It also emerged that after the attack in Tunisia that Scotland Yard will double the number of counter-terrorism officers it bases overseas in nations close to IS strongholds.