Al-qaeda teaching UK jihadists how to derail trains

AL-QAEDA is urging its supporters in Britain to derail trains, to cause massive loss of life and “instil fear” among travellers and commuters.

Securing thousands of miles of track in the UK was “practically impossible” and attacks would cause “great damage and destruction,” the terrorist group said in their magazine Inspire.

They offered to show how to make a “derail tool” and said any attacks would force governments to impose the airport-style security measures on rail travellers.

It is understood the threat is being taken seriously by British and American intelligence agencies, who are said to be “working closely” to combat it.

Whitehall sources said they are increasingly concerned that travelling by train was “one area of public transport worryingly yet to be exploited”.

One source said the Armed Forces were prepared to support police and ambulance services if there was an attack. The source said: “It is a worrying indication of al-qaeda’s continuing commitment to cause disruption to the way of life in Britain and in America.”

Al-qaeda was looking at the “weaponising of basic transport systems in the same vein as an aeroplane being used as a weapon,” in a reference to the terrorist group’s attacks on New York and Washington on September 11 2001.

A major worry for London and Washington is that as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) loses influence in the Middle East, al-qaeda will become more of a threat. The source said: “The Government is very concerned that as Daesh is squeezed, al-qaeda remains the growing capability and those committed to the Jihadist cause are moving across to al-qaeda.”

The Inspire article, published at the weekend, made clear that al-qaeda wanted supporters to attack railways in Britain, France and the USA.

It said: “America’s railroads are estimated to be one third of the world’s railway. So how can they protect 240,000km (149,12 miles) of railroad … it is practically impossible. The same goes to Britain [with] 18,500km (11,495 miles) and France, with 29,473km (18,313 miles). It is a daunting and almost impossible task to protect the long railroad length, and yet one of the easiest to target. That may result [in] great damage and destruction.

It added: “It is time that we instil fear and make them impose strict security measures to trains as they did with their air transportation.”

The magazine said trains can be targeted by attacking the train wagon “from inside or outside” or “targeting the rail itself so as to derail the train”.

It added: “The third one is targeting train stations… they are always crowded and cause major interruption towards the transportation system.”

The article focuses on “derailing the train. This can be performed by a single person multiple times.”

“We will explain to you how to make a derail tool, show the best way of using it in the field and give you suggestions on the best way, timing and place to use it.”