Britain ‘is home to 35,000 radicals – 3,000 of who are worrying MI5’, European anti-terror chief warns
BRITAIN is home to up to 35,000 fanatical Islamists of whom 3,000 are “worrying” for the security service MI5, Europe’s top anti-terrorism official said today.
EU counter-terrorism co-ordinator Gilles de Kerchove singled out the UK as having more radicalised Muslims than any other country in Europe.
Mr de Kerchove also warned Islamic state will attempt a cyberattack on nuclear power stations or air traffic control systems within five years - possibly by paying Russian hackers to break into vital computer systems.
The official, who is in regular contact with security services, terrorism experts and governments around Europe, said: “The United Kingdom has identified 20,000 to 35,000 radicals. Of these, 3,000 are worrying for MI5, and of those 500 are under constant and special attention.”
“I wouldn’t like to put a concrete figure on it, but (in Europe) tens of thousands, more than 50,000.”
Mr de Kerchove, who has been in his position since 2007, was speaking in an interview with Spain’s El Mundo newspaper.
He warned European countries will suffer further attacks inspired by ISIS - and said greater measures must be taken to prevent them.
Asked about the 12-man cell who murdered 16 and injured more than 100 in attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils on August 17 and 18, he said: “We will suffer more attacks. Most, except for Brussels and Paris, were not directed from Raqqa, but they were inspired there. And later Islamic State claims responsibility.”
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Mr de Kerchove said it was vital that European intelligence agencies and police properly analyse the data they collect and share.
For example, police in Catalonia had been warned about Abdelbaki Es Satty, the alleged leader of the Barcelona cell, by counterparts in Belgium, but failed to recognise the danger he represented.
The counter-terrorism official warned that radicals were increasingly using the Islamic concept of “taqiyya” - concealing their religious beliefs from those around them - in order to prevent detection.
He said officials must work to protect so called “easy targets” with bollards and the re-designing of streets necessary.
Mr de Kerchove said European security services had “dismantled cells, destroyed plans, arrested people”.
The official said to date there have been no recorded cases of cyberterrorism, “in the sense of penetrating or intending to penetrate the systems of nuclear power stations, prisons, electrical stations or aerospace”.
But he said he would “not be surprised” if it happens in the next five years as they exploit the dark net.
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