MI5: Teen Al Qaeda Recruits, Russian Spies Target Britain

November 05, 2007 11:40 AM

Brian Ross Reports:

Mi5teenalqae_mn Teenage al Qaeda recruits and Russian spies are targeting Great Britain in increasing numbers, according to the country's chief spymaster, Jonathan Evans, the head of MI5.

In a speech today, Evans said MI5 had identified 2,000 al Qaeda-connected individuals "who we believe pose a direct threat to national security and public safety."

Individuals as young as 15 and 16 have been implicated in terrorist-related activity, according to Evans, who said the extremists are "methodically and intentionally targeting young people and children in the U.K."

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As for the Russians, Evans said "there has been no decrease" in Russian intelligence officers carrying out covert activities in Britain. MI5 is devoting significant resources, Evans said, to countering "unreconstructed attempts by Russian, and others, to spy on the U.K." 

His comments are considered an important reflection of the current threat as seen by British officials.

Evans speaks only with "the concurrence" of the home secretary, according to officials.

His speech was delivered Monday to the Society of Editors Annual Conference in Manchester.

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November 5, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (6)

User Comments

If there are OBL & Russian spies in Britain then imagine how many British M15 spies are in other parts of the world. Welcome to the real world M15. Welcome indeed...

Posted by: kilroy was here | Nov 5, 2007 2:39:01 PM

"according to Evans, who said the extremists are "methodically and intentionally targeting young people and children in the U.K."
Lets translate this: Britains Growing muslim population is being used against them. This is a self created problem. The tiny Island continues to encourage the immigration of hundreds of thousands of Muslim to Britain. Meanwhile, Native British are beginning to flee by the hundreds of thousands. I wonder when ABC will ever get around to reporting this?

Posted by: J. Baker | Nov 5, 2007 3:18:56 PM

Kilroy was here

MI5 looks after the UK and everything within it MI6 does whatever it does outside the UK. Wooryingly Al Qaeda are grooming kids to be terrorists that is scary. Especially when we have a readily available enemy within with very close ties to Pakistan

Posted by: Chris | Nov 5, 2007 3:44:04 PM

the russians elitists and their gestapo (aka the kgb) are proving once again that they cant be trusted, taking and holding power in the most insidious way.

and for anyone without a brain, russia is pretty much ruled by the kgb, from the figureheads in politics to the media flunkies who, not surprisingly, report the party line nirvana-like status quo of the state to the uninformed ,uneducated , largely inebriated (via cheap government supplied vodka) peasantry. it is pretty evident that the current regime is patently, as well as purposefully, creating a rabid nationalistic mob,just like hitler and mao did. we and our allies should ask ourselves (and them!) ,why?

read the news,the russians (and the chinese as well ) are spying like crazy on everyone. not that the usa doesnt spy ,but i would say ,(especially given the recent events in russia and china ,eg; the heavy handed suppression of democratic ideals and political opposition )the motives for said spying are largely different.

bottom line? the current russian ruling party should be watched like a hawk by the usa and its allies, and it would probably be in this great nations' best interests to start and implement new contingency planning with our allies in europe to deal with any future military threat from them (such as the new missle defense system we are deploying that they are so vehemently opposed to ). its most clear they are a prototypical backstabbing regime if there ever was one...

Posted by: bah | Nov 5, 2007 5:01:33 PM

Bond knew about the Russians back in the 60's.

Posted by: Doug | Nov 5, 2007 8:26:47 PM

well put bah, they are up to no good.trust putin, as far as you can throw him.

Posted by: solkes | Nov 10, 2007 12:02:43 AM

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