United Kingdom: MI5 Director highlights terrorism risk October 17

Event

Director General Andrew Parker of MI5, the United Kingdom’s domestic intelligence agency, announced on Tuesday, October 17, that the country’s current Islamist terrorist threat is severe and developing at a previously unseen “scale and pace” during a rare speech in London. Parker added that his agency has more than 500 current investigations monitoring over 3000 people nationwide. Additionally, over 20,000 individuals have been scrutinized for potential ties to terrorist groups or extremist ideologies in recent years. Parker emphasized that the risk may be further exacerbated by the return in the coming months of UK nationals who had previously left the territory to join Islamic State (IS) abroad.

Context

MI5 is responsible for the UK’s internal security and is the country’s lead counterterrorism intelligence agency. The UK remains on high alert against the threat of terrorism, with domestic authorities reportedly having foiled at least 20 terrorist attacks in the UK since 2013. Furthermore, nearly 380 terrorism-related arrests were made in the first half of 2017. Successful attacks in London and Manchester in 2017 left 36 people dead, and scores more injured.

Advice

Individuals in the United Kingdom are advised to remain alert, adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities, and report any suspicious behavior or activity.