UK terror attack unlikely, says police chief

A FRESH terrorist outrage on British soil remains unlikely despite the carnage in Paris, Britain’s top police officer said yesterday.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe insisted police and the security services have a good track record in keeping people safe.

But the Scotland Yard chief said he remains deeply concerned at the number of people returning from fighting in Syria and Iraq.

‘I don’t think it’s likely but I think we all know it’s a possibility – the threat level is severe and so therefore that means a terrorist attack is possible,’ he added.

‘We do our best together with the security services to make sure the terrorists don’t succeed and that we keep people safe. To date, that’s broadly what we’ve been able to achieve.’

Despite his comments the nation remained on high alert last night amid fears of a copycat terrorist attack. Security was tightened at ports and train stations amid fears the bloody Paris massacres could spark further violence.

Officials were told to be particularly vigilant for attempt to smuggle firearms into the country in a bid to emulate the atrocities on the continent. Senior Whitehall sources warned that officials are poised to raise the terrorist threat to from ‘severe’ to ‘critical’, the highest possible category.

They fear a hardcore of Al Qaeda terrorists in Syria are planning further ‘mass casualty attacks’ against Western targets.

The most active branch of the global terror franchise, Al Qaeda in the Yemen, has explicitly stated that the UK is its top target.

It is believed several dozen suspects thought to have links to the terror group or Islamic State remain under constant surveillance.

Sir Bernard said one of his biggest concerns is young men leaving Britain to join Islamic State militants. Speaking on Sky News, Sir Bernard called on families to do everything they can to intervene before they can travel.

He said: ‘The task is to get in there before they go, then we can talk to them and talk to the charities who can help them and persuade them of the foolishness of what they’re about to embark on.’

Up to 600 would-be jihadis are thought to have travelled to Syria. Of those, as many as 300 are believed to have returned from the front line.

Ministers are also considering new SAS-led counter terrorist response units to help tackle the jihadi threat, it was claimed yesterday.