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James Foley killing betrays Britain - Philip Hammond | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The apparent killing of a US journalist by an Islamic State militant believed to be from the UK is "an utter betrayal of everything the British people stand for", the foreign secretary has said. | |
Writing in the Sunday Times, Philip Hammond said the government was investing "significant resources" to tackle "a barbaric ideology". | Writing in the Sunday Times, Philip Hammond said the government was investing "significant resources" to tackle "a barbaric ideology". |
This, he added, could threaten Britain. | This, he added, could threaten Britain. |
Echoing other government ministers, Mr Hammond said the threat from Syria and Iraq would last a generation. | Echoing other government ministers, Mr Hammond said the threat from Syria and Iraq would last a generation. |
While the security services hunt the man who apparently beheaded US journalist James Foley, the foreign secretary made clear his revulsion that the culprit could be British. | |
'Strategy clear' | 'Strategy clear' |
"It is horrifying to think that the perpetrator of this heinous act could have been brought up in Britain," Mr Hammond said. | "It is horrifying to think that the perpetrator of this heinous act could have been brought up in Britain," Mr Hammond said. |
"It is an utter betrayal of our country, our values and everything the British people stand for. | "It is an utter betrayal of our country, our values and everything the British people stand for. |
More than 500 British citizens are thought to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight in the past few years. | More than 500 British citizens are thought to have travelled to Syria and Iraq to fight in the past few years. |
Mr Hammond said the UK had assisted Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, who are battling against Islamic State, with military aircraft delivering equipment. | Mr Hammond said the UK had assisted Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, who are battling against Islamic State, with military aircraft delivering equipment. |
He confirmed Britain would soon start sending eastern European ammunition and weaponry "with which they are already familiar". | He confirmed Britain would soon start sending eastern European ammunition and weaponry "with which they are already familiar". |
He also said the government was "scoping out" what the UK might supply itself - such as night vision equipment, weapons and ammunition - although no specific request had yet been made. | He also said the government was "scoping out" what the UK might supply itself - such as night vision equipment, weapons and ammunition - although no specific request had yet been made. |
Mr Hammond said: "Our strategy is clear. We are investing significant resources to tackle this problem for the long-term." | Mr Hammond said: "Our strategy is clear. We are investing significant resources to tackle this problem for the long-term." |
'Bloodthirsty skills' | 'Bloodthirsty skills' |
Meanwhile, senior Conservative MP David Davis has called for British jihadists to be stripped of their UK citizenship. | Meanwhile, senior Conservative MP David Davis has called for British jihadists to be stripped of their UK citizenship. |
In an article for the Mail on Sunday, he said: "Since these young men are in effect swearing allegiance to a hostile state, they should all forfeit their British citizenship - not just those who are dual nationals. | In an article for the Mail on Sunday, he said: "Since these young men are in effect swearing allegiance to a hostile state, they should all forfeit their British citizenship - not just those who are dual nationals. |
"Since this is an incredibly serious penalty, it should be done only after a proper public trial carrying all the public seriousness and opprobrium of a murder trial, because in many cases that is what it would be. | "Since this is an incredibly serious penalty, it should be done only after a proper public trial carrying all the public seriousness and opprobrium of a murder trial, because in many cases that is what it would be. |
"As the home secretary reiterated yesterday, lawyers would say you cannot render someone stateless. | "As the home secretary reiterated yesterday, lawyers would say you cannot render someone stateless. |
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Whitehall lawyers have been wrong before. Democracies have a right to defend themselves." | "Perhaps, perhaps not. Whitehall lawyers have been wrong before. Democracies have a right to defend themselves." |
Writing in the same newspaper, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey made a similar point. | Writing in the same newspaper, former Archbishop of Canterbury Lord Carey made a similar point. |
"They should not have access to the privilege of travelling under a British passport," he said, "and they certainly should not be able to travel back with the barbaric and bloodthirsty skills they have gained." | "They should not have access to the privilege of travelling under a British passport," he said, "and they certainly should not be able to travel back with the barbaric and bloodthirsty skills they have gained." |
Home Secretary Theresa May has said the government is looking at new powers to tackle the threat of extremism in Britain. | Home Secretary Theresa May has said the government is looking at new powers to tackle the threat of extremism in Britain. |