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British jihadism in Syria poses lasting problem for UK security, says minister British jihadism in Syria poses lasting problem for UK security, says minister
(about 2 hours later)
A Home Office minister has warned that British jihadists' involvement in the ongoing civil war in Syria represents a growing long-term concern for UK security.A Home Office minister has warned that British jihadists' involvement in the ongoing civil war in Syria represents a growing long-term concern for UK security.
James Brokenshire, recently appointed as immigration minister, told the BBC that hundreds of Britons had taken up arms in the conflict, raising lasting worries for the security services.James Brokenshire, recently appointed as immigration minister, told the BBC that hundreds of Britons had taken up arms in the conflict, raising lasting worries for the security services.
Asked whether those fighting in Syria could threaten the UK on their return, he said: "We remain vigilant to the risk that individuals may travel back and I think we will have an enduring position where the focus around the potential threat arising from Syria will remain with us for many, many years to come."Asked whether those fighting in Syria could threaten the UK on their return, he said: "We remain vigilant to the risk that individuals may travel back and I think we will have an enduring position where the focus around the potential threat arising from Syria will remain with us for many, many years to come."
Last week a Highways Agency lorry driver, Abdul Waheed Majeed, 41, is understood to have become the first British suicide bomber in Syria after detonating a truck full of explosives outside of the gates of a prison complex in Aleppo.Last week a Highways Agency lorry driver, Abdul Waheed Majeed, 41, is understood to have become the first British suicide bomber in Syria after detonating a truck full of explosives outside of the gates of a prison complex in Aleppo.
The father of three from Crawley, West Sussex, had links to UK terrorists jailed in 2007 and was a former acolyte of the radical preacher Omar Bakri, who ran the now banned radical group al-Muhajiroun. The father of three from Crawley, West Sussex, had links to UK terrorists jailed in 2007 and was a former acolyte of the radical preacher Omar Bakri Muhammad, who ran the now banned group al-Muhajiroun.
In a 35-minute video produced by the Syrian jihadi group al-Nusra Front and uploaded to YouTube in the last few days, Majeed is shown standing beside the armour-plated lorry and saying he has no words to offer before carrying out the suicide attack, which served to free hundreds of rebel fighters from prison. In a 46-minute video produced by the Syrian jihadi group al-Nusra Front and uploaded to YouTube in the last few days, Majeed is shown standing beside the armour-plated lorry and saying he has no words to offer before carrying out the suicide attack, which served to free hundreds of rebel fighters from prison.
"I am not a very good speaker. My tongue … has got a knot in it," he tells the camera. "If I have a message it should come from the heart and I can't do it.""I am not a very good speaker. My tongue … has got a knot in it," he tells the camera. "If I have a message it should come from the heart and I can't do it."
Counter-terrorism officers searched Majeed's house in Martyrs Avenue, Crawley. A home in Manchester linked to another fighter's death in Syria was searched on Thursday.Counter-terrorism officers searched Majeed's house in Martyrs Avenue, Crawley. A home in Manchester linked to another fighter's death in Syria was searched on Thursday.
Brokenshire told Radio 4's The World This Weekend there was no government policy to threaten prosecution of people who were considering joining the Syrian war, but added: "I make no apology for prosecutions where the CPS judges that that is appropriate given that our terrorist legislation can have extension beyond the shores of the UK."Brokenshire told Radio 4's The World This Weekend there was no government policy to threaten prosecution of people who were considering joining the Syrian war, but added: "I make no apology for prosecutions where the CPS judges that that is appropriate given that our terrorist legislation can have extension beyond the shores of the UK."
People should not be travelling to Syria, he said. "Sadly Syria has become the number one jihadist destination in the world." Even those travelling out for "genuine humanitarian purposes" could end up getting sucked into the conflict, as jihadi groups controlled large swaths of territory on the ground. He recommended that people made donations to recognised humanitarian organisations instead.People should not be travelling to Syria, he said. "Sadly Syria has become the number one jihadist destination in the world." Even those travelling out for "genuine humanitarian purposes" could end up getting sucked into the conflict, as jihadi groups controlled large swaths of territory on the ground. He recommended that people made donations to recognised humanitarian organisations instead.
The former security minister said the number of British fighters in Syria was believed to be in the low hundreds.The former security minister said the number of British fighters in Syria was believed to be in the low hundreds.
"The security concern links to Syria [are] likely to be with us for the foreseeable future. A significant proportion and a growing proportion of the security services' work is linked to Syria in some way … This is a big problem," Brokenshire said."The security concern links to Syria [are] likely to be with us for the foreseeable future. A significant proportion and a growing proportion of the security services' work is linked to Syria in some way … This is a big problem," Brokenshire said.
"It is why they [the security services] are vigilant, why they are taking the steps they are around the border and monitoring travel to and from Syria … rightly guarding our national security, and ensuring that where individuals are identified as having been involved in terrorism or terrorism-related activity, they are rightly brought to justice.""It is why they [the security services] are vigilant, why they are taking the steps they are around the border and monitoring travel to and from Syria … rightly guarding our national security, and ensuring that where individuals are identified as having been involved in terrorism or terrorism-related activity, they are rightly brought to justice."