ID :
39478
Thu, 01/08/2009 - 05:37
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/39478
The shortlink copeid
Mumbai terrorists had links to UK, says MI5 chief
Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Jan 7 (PTI) Warning that the Mumbai attacks, in
which the terrorists targeted public places, could become a
"model" for future terror strikes, Britain's intelligence
service MI5 chief has said his agency has uncovered links
between the gunmen who struck in the Indian metropolis and the
UK.
Jonathan Evans, in a rare interaction with the media,
said the terrorists, who attacked Mumbai in November, had
indirect links with Britain.
"We have looked at individuals' communications, where
they have been and so on and found they have got connections
with most countries including the UK, but not of national
security significance," he said.
But the MI5 director general warned that Mumbai could
become a model for future terrorist attacks in the same
"iconic" way as September 11 strikes in the US.
"If the method used in Mumbai of using firearms in public
places becomes adopted as a model, it changes our most likely
scenarios," he added.
Evans said that scores of British Muslims were still
travelling to terror training camps in Afghanistan and
Pakistan every year. Others are travelling to lawless areas
of Somalia.
The main threats to Britain come from al-Qaeda's core in
Pakistan and their "assets in this country," he said.
"We continue to believe that the ability lies in Pakistan
to attack the UK," Evans said, adding that 75 percent of
their investigations have connections with Pakistan.
Evans said the number of extremists wanting to travel to
Iraq had "tailed off significantly" as Britain prepares to
withdraw but there was still "traffic" into Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
"What happens in Afghanistan is extremely important
because what happens there has a direct impact on domestic
security in the UK," he said.
"Pre-2001 they were able to establish terrorist training
facilities and to draw in hardened extremists and vulnerable
recruits to indoctrinate and teach techniques.
"If the Taliban is able to establish control over
significant areas, there is a real danger that such
facilities will be re-established," Evans said. PTI
London, Jan 7 (PTI) Warning that the Mumbai attacks, in
which the terrorists targeted public places, could become a
"model" for future terror strikes, Britain's intelligence
service MI5 chief has said his agency has uncovered links
between the gunmen who struck in the Indian metropolis and the
UK.
Jonathan Evans, in a rare interaction with the media,
said the terrorists, who attacked Mumbai in November, had
indirect links with Britain.
"We have looked at individuals' communications, where
they have been and so on and found they have got connections
with most countries including the UK, but not of national
security significance," he said.
But the MI5 director general warned that Mumbai could
become a model for future terrorist attacks in the same
"iconic" way as September 11 strikes in the US.
"If the method used in Mumbai of using firearms in public
places becomes adopted as a model, it changes our most likely
scenarios," he added.
Evans said that scores of British Muslims were still
travelling to terror training camps in Afghanistan and
Pakistan every year. Others are travelling to lawless areas
of Somalia.
The main threats to Britain come from al-Qaeda's core in
Pakistan and their "assets in this country," he said.
"We continue to believe that the ability lies in Pakistan
to attack the UK," Evans said, adding that 75 percent of
their investigations have connections with Pakistan.
Evans said the number of extremists wanting to travel to
Iraq had "tailed off significantly" as Britain prepares to
withdraw but there was still "traffic" into Pakistan and
Afghanistan.
"What happens in Afghanistan is extremely important
because what happens there has a direct impact on domestic
security in the UK," he said.
"Pre-2001 they were able to establish terrorist training
facilities and to draw in hardened extremists and vulnerable
recruits to indoctrinate and teach techniques.
"If the Taliban is able to establish control over
significant areas, there is a real danger that such
facilities will be re-established," Evans said. PTI
