The contention that al-Qaeda , or at least sympathizers, might have had interests in, or even attempted to, infiltrating MI5 or any other ally intelligence agency should come as no real surprise. MI5, in a radical departure from its past ?bersecret existence, recently has held recruiting drives, particularly targeting recruits “from diverse backgrounds” (source). However, sources contend that “potential infiltrators were discovered?and weeded out.”
Further, investigations into the 7/7 London Tube attacks , the one-year anniversary for which is just days away, have forsworn prosecution against those who knew about the plan. The anniversary will be marked by a national two-minute silence at 12:00 BST. In the past year, investigators have worked on “reconstructing” the 7/7 simultaneous suicide attacks on public transit and the precursor events?to include investigating individuals who may have knowingly or unknowingly been complicit?that led to the tragedy. Thus far, investigators have taken 13,353 witness statements and have over 6,000 hours of CCTV footage. While the investigation is ongoing, many arrows point to Pakistan for the bombers’ site for training and coordination with al-Qaeda handlers .
Scotland Yard remains on guard for attacks and plots that they have termed “very sinister” against the UK . According to an unidentified poll that was generally supported by the Home Office, 400,000 Britons are “sympathetic to violent jihad around the world,” and some 1,200 have been identified as activists for jihad. The Met anti-terrorism branch is holding 60 people for “terrorist-related offenses” and is investigating some 70 open cases in the UK and around the world, many of which involve mass murder plots. Their spokesman, Peter Clarke, contends somewhat ominously that “?the flow of new cases shows no sign of abating?if anything it is accelerating,” according to the BBC. Clarke contends that in the year officials at least “disrupted three, and probably four attack plans [excluding the 7/21 [Terrorist Incident] attack] in the U.K. Three of these have been, or will be the subject of criminal trials and one was the subject of another form of disruption” (source). One plot is said to have involved chemicals; however, it remains unconfirmed if the plot was the controversial raid in mid-June that may have served to alienate the very audience MI5 needs to counter al-Qaeda. The Home Office was able to invoke its antiterrorism legislation to variously deport or place under house arrest those deemed a national security threat and will also freeze the assets of individuals and their families, according to The Guardian. MI5 is expanding police coverage to 3,500 and up to eight new regional offices to ameliorate the threat.
The main radicalizing factor for British Muslims is a widespread sense of humiliation, according to Maher Othman of the al-Hayat newspaper. While other issues?specifically alienation, exclusion, and religious intolerance?are also key components to integrating any religion or ethnicity , Othman, though, focuses squarely on humiliation. Identifying any factor(s) is crucial; however, implementation and action are key indicators that a host country is truly dedicated to resolving these tensions. As the anniversary of 7/7 approaches, the British Muslim community must see that integration efforts are truly underway rather than simply lip service by slick politicians in responses to an egregious attack against civilians.
More globally, the threat of radicalized cells in the UK could potentially also threaten neighboring mainland Europe, transatlantic US , and any other allies . Passport holders from the UK can enter the US easily as tourists via the visa waver program. This allows legal entry to the US for 90 days, and if a person is not in various security databases of 300,000 terrorism suspects, s/he will gain unfettered access, being deemed a low priority for counterterrorism efforts . Europe is even easier to enter via the Schengen Accord, which restricts border patrols. These factors make disenfranchised Britons that much more attract for jihadist recruiters. However, this notion should not be reserved exclusively to the UK; most European nations have disaffected populations and are also granted special visa status with the US.