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Theresa May reveals al-Qaeda terror arrest in UK Theresa May defends UK's defences against terrorism
(40 minutes later)
An al-Qaeda member was arrested in the UK on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in this country earlier this year, Home Secretary Theresa May said. Home Secretary Theresa May has defended the UK's security measures in her first major speech on counter-terrorism.
She said the person arrested was from al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. She also said that British extremists had already travelled to Somalia to train and fight.
She also said that without intervention there would be British extremists who would train in Mogadishu and return home to attempt to commit mass murder. And she said that if UK security services did not intervene, then these individuals would return home to the UK to attempt to commit mass murder.
Ms May added that she would do "absolutely nothing which will put at risk Britain's national security".Ms May added that she would do "absolutely nothing which will put at risk Britain's national security".
She made her comments in her first major speech on counter-terrorism as home secretary. And she said core counter-terrorist policing capabilities would be maintained.
Ms May said core counter-terrorist capabilities in policing would be maintained, and that spending on counter-terrorism "will remain high". Spending on counter-terrorism "will remain high", she added, with more than £2bn for policing alone being spent in the next four years.
More than £2bn for policing alone would be spent in the next four years, she said. She also said that an alleged al-Qaeda member from the Arabian Peninsula was arrested in the UK on suspicion of planning a terrorist attack in this country earlier this year.
She added: "Anyone who has been on the front benches of government or opposition for the last 10 years, as I have, will have thought long and hard about issues such as control orders, pre-charge detention and other counter-terrorism powers. She said: "We know that people from this country have already gone to Somalia to fight.
"In Parliament we have debated these issues, considered the balance between liberty and security and voted on the legislation. "It seems highly likely, given experience elsewhere, that if left to their own devices we would eventually see British extremists, trained and hardened on the streets of Mogadishu returning to the UK and seeking to commit mass murder on the streets of London."
She also said MPs on the front benches of government or opposition for the last 10 years, "will have thought long and hard about issues such as control orders, pre-charge detention and other counter-terrorism powers".
She added: "In Parliament we have debated these issues, considered the balance between liberty and security and voted on the legislation.
"I don't believe the previous government got the balance right but let me make clear: I will do absolutely nothing which will put at risk Britain's national security."I don't believe the previous government got the balance right but let me make clear: I will do absolutely nothing which will put at risk Britain's national security.
"So where necessary we will enhance our protective security measures. We will invest in conflict prevention and stopping terrorist plots overseas, we will refocus the strategy for preventing radicalisation in the UK, and we will strike a better balance between our liberties and our security.""So where necessary we will enhance our protective security measures. We will invest in conflict prevention and stopping terrorist plots overseas, we will refocus the strategy for preventing radicalisation in the UK, and we will strike a better balance between our liberties and our security."
Ms May also said she would not create a database enabling the state to listen in on every private conversation in the country.Ms May also said she would not create a database enabling the state to listen in on every private conversation in the country.
"I want an approach which is more targeted against extremist individuals, but that impacts much less on the good people of our communities," she said."I want an approach which is more targeted against extremist individuals, but that impacts much less on the good people of our communities," she said.
"I want an approach which allows people to enjoy their liberty in safety and security. And I want an approach that is effective in dealing with an evolving threat. That is what we will deliver.""I want an approach which allows people to enjoy their liberty in safety and security. And I want an approach that is effective in dealing with an evolving threat. That is what we will deliver."