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MI5 boss describes UK terror threat MI5 boss describes UK terror threat
(35 minutes later)
The head of MI5 has described how technological advances are increasing the challenge faced by the security service in monitoring terror suspects. The head of MI5 Andrew Parker has described how technology is increasing the challenge faced by the security service in monitoring terror suspects.
Andrew Parker told the BBC's Today programme the intelligence services were "focused on the people who mean us harm" and not checking people's personal information. In the first live interview by a serving MI5 boss he told the BBC the intelligence services were not about "browsing the lives" of the UK public.
He said six terror attempts had been foiled in the past 12 months. He told the Today programme six terror plots had been foiled in the past year.
It is the first time a serving head of MI5 has done a live interview. Ministers are currently preparing legislation on the powers for carrying out electronic surveillance.
Mr Parker said online data encryption was creating a situation where the police and intelligence agencies "can no longer obtain under proper legal warrant the communication of people they believe to be terrorists".
He said it was a "very serious" issue adding: "It's in nobody's interests that terrorists should be able to plot and communicate out of the reach of authorities."
Ministers are currently preparing legislation on the powers given to intelligence agencies to carry out electronic surveillance.
But Mr Parker said what should be included in new legislation was a matter "for parliament to decide".But Mr Parker said what should be included in new legislation was a matter "for parliament to decide".
"It is completely for ministers to propose, and parliament to decide. It's a fundamental point about what MI5 is. It's for us to follow what's set by parliament, and that's what we do.""It is completely for ministers to propose, and parliament to decide. It's a fundamental point about what MI5 is. It's for us to follow what's set by parliament, and that's what we do."
He also rejected the suggestion that security service tactics can lead to radicalisation in some targets and played down fears about extremists entering Europe among the thousands of refugees from Syria.. He also rejected the suggestion that security service tactics can lead to radicalisation in some targets and played down fears about extremists entering Europe among the thousands of refugees from Syria.
He said online data encryption was creating a situation where the police and intelligence agencies "can no longer obtain under proper legal warrant the communication of people they believe to be terrorists".
He said it was a "very serious" issue adding: "It's in nobody's interests that terrorists should be able to plot and communicate out of the reach of authorities."
When asked about the fact that the killers of Fusilier Lee Rigby were known to the intelligence services Mr Parker said: "There cannot be a guarantee that we will find and stop everything. That's not possible.
"If we do our jobs well, we will know who most of the people are who potentially offer a threat to this country."
But he said: "We can't monitor them all the time."
MI5 had to "make choices" about where to put resources, and make sure they were "focused where the sharpest threat is", he said.