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UK Syria fighters pose long-term threat - Met officer UK Syria fighters pose long-term threat - Met officer
(35 minutes later)
UK police will have to deal with the threat of British fighters returning from Syria for "many years", a top Scotland Yard officer has told the BBC.UK police will have to deal with the threat of British fighters returning from Syria for "many years", a top Scotland Yard officer has told the BBC.
Met Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick said the conflict represented a "long-term" terrorist threat.Met Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick said the conflict represented a "long-term" terrorist threat.
She said young British Muslims might commit violence on their return.She said young British Muslims might commit violence on their return.
Her comments came after an apparent internet recruitment video for jihadists in Syria and Iraq featured several Britons.Her comments came after an apparent internet recruitment video for jihadists in Syria and Iraq featured several Britons.
The film was posted by internet accounts linked to militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis), which has a presence in Syria and is engaged in fierce fighting with Iraqi government forces.
The BBC understands one of the men in the video is Reyaad Khan, 20, from Cardiff.The BBC understands one of the men in the video is Reyaad Khan, 20, from Cardiff.
It comes after the father of aspiring medical student Nasser Muthana, also 20 and from Cardiff, spoke of his shock at seeing his son in the video.It comes after the father of aspiring medical student Nasser Muthana, also 20 and from Cardiff, spoke of his shock at seeing his son in the video.
The film was posted by internet accounts linked to militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis), which has a presence in Syria and is engaged in fierce fighting with Iraqi government forces. He said his younger son, Aseel, 17, had also travelled to the country in November. Ahmed Muthana said he also recognised another man from Cardiff in the video, which cannot be verified.
'Disrupt plots''Disrupt plots'
Speaking to BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend, Ms Dick - who is currently head of specialist operations including counter terrorism at the Met - warned Britain would face "the consequences" of the conflict in Syria for "many years to come".Speaking to BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend, Ms Dick - who is currently head of specialist operations including counter terrorism at the Met - warned Britain would face "the consequences" of the conflict in Syria for "many years to come".
"We are really alert to the fact that people may come back and they may have military training," she said."We are really alert to the fact that people may come back and they may have military training," she said.
"They may seek - although it's very difficult - to smuggle weaponry here and they may seek to cause violence or to encourage others to cause violence."They may seek - although it's very difficult - to smuggle weaponry here and they may seek to cause violence or to encourage others to cause violence.
"So a huge part of our effort is about trying to work out who is coming back and intercept them at the port, and of course if we discover that there are plots being planned either from abroad, for example from Syria, or within the UK, we will do everything we can to disrupt that plot, keep the public safe and bring people to justice.""So a huge part of our effort is about trying to work out who is coming back and intercept them at the port, and of course if we discover that there are plots being planned either from abroad, for example from Syria, or within the UK, we will do everything we can to disrupt that plot, keep the public safe and bring people to justice."
She said until recently police believed around 460 Britons had gone to fight in Syria, but said the figure could now have climbed to around 500. She said until recently police believed around 460 Britons had gone to fight in Syria, but said the figure could now be around 500.
"It's very difficult to know absolutely who has travelled or where they currently are," Ms Dick said. "I don't think anybody will ever have an absolutely definitive number.""It's very difficult to know absolutely who has travelled or where they currently are," Ms Dick said. "I don't think anybody will ever have an absolutely definitive number."
Former MI6 director of global counter-terrorism Richard Barrett told Sky News's Murnaghan programme that as many as 300 radicalised young men had already returned to the UK.Former MI6 director of global counter-terrorism Richard Barrett told Sky News's Murnaghan programme that as many as 300 radicalised young men had already returned to the UK.
Mr Barrett said it was an "absolute nightmare" for security agencies because they do not have the resources to track all of them.Mr Barrett said it was an "absolute nightmare" for security agencies because they do not have the resources to track all of them.
Some are known "but others are probably completely unknown and maybe even their return is unknown and will only come to light later", he said.Some are known "but others are probably completely unknown and maybe even their return is unknown and will only come to light later", he said.
More than 50 people have been arrested in the UK since 2013 for alleged Syria-related offences.More than 50 people have been arrested in the UK since 2013 for alleged Syria-related offences.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the big question was whether the situation abroad was going to "bounce back here to the UK".BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the big question was whether the situation abroad was going to "bounce back here to the UK".
He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "Although the British government has said 'We're not going to get involved militarily' in Iraq, we are fooling ourselves if we think that we are going to be immune from any backlash.He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "Although the British government has said 'We're not going to get involved militarily' in Iraq, we are fooling ourselves if we think that we are going to be immune from any backlash.
"The West is seen as being all part of one thing by these jihadists... We're all going to get it, if we are seen as being taking sides as combatants.""The West is seen as being all part of one thing by these jihadists... We're all going to get it, if we are seen as being taking sides as combatants."
Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "The West is seen as a single entity. There are those who say 'If we don't get involved, if we hunker down, then we'll be fine, there'll be no backlash'.Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox said: "The West is seen as a single entity. There are those who say 'If we don't get involved, if we hunker down, then we'll be fine, there'll be no backlash'.
"That is utterly wrong because the jihadists don't hate us because of what we do, they hate us because of who we are.""That is utterly wrong because the jihadists don't hate us because of what we do, they hate us because of who we are."
Mr Fox said the question had to be asked whether the security services had adequate resources for an increased threat.Mr Fox said the question had to be asked whether the security services had adequate resources for an increased threat.
He said there should be more surveillance, more manpower and more money, if required.He said there should be more surveillance, more manpower and more money, if required.
"At heart it's an ideological battle. We have to realise we have to win the ideological battle as well," he added."At heart it's an ideological battle. We have to realise we have to win the ideological battle as well," he added.
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis)Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isis)
Isis grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in IraqIsis grew out of an al-Qaeda-linked organisation in Iraq
Nasser's father, Ahmed Muthana, said his son left the UK to fight in Syria in November, telling BBC Wales that his 17-year-old younger son, Aseel, had also travelled to the country.
Mr Muthana said he was "heartbroken" Nasser had left the UK to fight in Syria. He said he feared his sons would "come back to me in a coffin".
He said another man in the video, which cannot be verified, was someone he recognised from Cardiff.
'Potentially vulnerable''Potentially vulnerable'
Alyas Karmani, an imam and independent city councillor in Bradford, said the government should take some responsibility for the issue.Alyas Karmani, an imam and independent city councillor in Bradford, said the government should take some responsibility for the issue.
He said: "We are not reaching this group of young people who are potentially vulnerable to this radicalisation. And one of the reasons is because a lot of agencies that were providing that counter messaging about two or three years ago had their funding cut by the government."He said: "We are not reaching this group of young people who are potentially vulnerable to this radicalisation. And one of the reasons is because a lot of agencies that were providing that counter messaging about two or three years ago had their funding cut by the government."
Madeleine Moon, Labour MP for Bridgend, said it was not necessarily the case that young British Muslims who had joined the fight in Syria would return and commit acts of violence at home.
South Wales Police said they were "increasingly concerned" about the number of young people travelling to Syria, but the issue was not unique to Cardiff or Wales.South Wales Police said they were "increasingly concerned" about the number of young people travelling to Syria, but the issue was not unique to Cardiff or Wales.
"The advice is to avoid all travel to Syria - anyone who does travel is putting themselves in considerable danger," they said, warning those who engaged in terror-related activities would be prosecuted."The advice is to avoid all travel to Syria - anyone who does travel is putting themselves in considerable danger," they said, warning those who engaged in terror-related activities would be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, an estimated 5,000 young people from across the UK are attending a residential event in Surrey this weekend organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Association to rally against radical Islam and pledge their loyalty to Britain.
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can send us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Isis".Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? You can send us your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk using the subject line "Isis".