Jihadists threaten terror ‘on scale of 70s IRA bombings’
JIHADISTS could wage a deadly campaign of terror not seen in Britain since the IRA bombings of the 1970s, the terrorism watchdog has warned.
The new independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Max Hill, has warned that Islamic State is planning “indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians” on a scale not seen for more than 40 years.
He also expressed “extreme concern” at the return of hundreds of British jihadists from Syria and said possible attacks were an “enormous ongoing risk which none of us can ignore”.
He was speaking in his first interview since his appointment.
The top barrister, who helped convict the 2005 failed London Tube bombers, said: “It is possible to point to distinctions in terms of the mindset, organisation and strategy of different terrorist groups.
“Therefore it would be wrong to draw a simple comparison between Irish republicanism and the ideology of so-called Islamic State.
“But in terms of the threat that’s represented, I think the intensity and the potential frequency of serious plot planning – with a view to indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians of whatever race or colour in metropolitan areas – represents an enormous ongoing risk that none of us can ignore.
“I think that there is undoubtedly significant ongoing risk which is at least as great as the threat to London in the 1970s when the IRA were active on the mainland.”
Mr Hill’s comments come just days after he was appointed to his new watchdog role, which will see him oversee the country’s anti-terrorism laws.
His assessment of the terror risk has received the backing of Home Secretary Amber Rudd, who has said defending the UK is her “main priority”.
As well as pledging to review anti-terror measures over concerns about any infringements of freedom, Mr Hill has also promised to get tough with Theresa May.
He has taken over from David Anderson, vowing to stand up to the Conservative leader if her policies fail to protect the British people from terrorist attacks. But he has controversially defended ministers who approved a reported £1million compensation payment to suicide bomber Abu Zakariya al-Britani, also known as Ronald Fiddler.
The Manchester-born terrorist, who carried out a car-bomb attack in Iraq earlier this month, was paid the money following his release from Guantanamo Bay in 2004.
The decision to allow the payout has sparked outrage among some MPs, including Lib Dem John Pugh, who labelled the decision a “kick in the teeth”.
One area of “enormous concern” highlighted by Mr Hill is that of hundreds of British citizens fighting alongside Islamic State in Syria.
He believes a recent string of military defeats could prompt many to return to Britain, possibly leading to a spike in terrorist activity.
He said: “It’s an enormous concern that large numbers are now returning or may be about to return.
“Of course the imminent fall of Mosul and perhaps the prospective retaking of Raqqa are both bound to lead to a higher instance of returning fighters.
“Does that mean that the British public need to be immediately alarmed at a spike in terrorist activity within this country?
“The answer to that is I don’t know, but it doesn’t follow as a matter of fact that those who chose to go to live or fight abroad will bring that fight back to this country.”