Cameron announces tougher terror laws
David Cameron has announced new laws to crack down on terror suspects as he warned that extremism in Iraq and Syria poses a greater danger to Britain than al-Qaida.
As the terrorist threat to the UK was raised from substantial to severe, the British Prime Minister said legislation would be introduced so it was easier to seize jihadists’ passports.
“What we are facing in Iraq now with Isil (Islamic State) is a greater threat to our security than we have seen before,” he told a press conference in Downing Street.
Mr Cameron said the intelligence and security services believed that at least 500 Britons had gone to fight in Syria and potentially Iraq.
Although he stressed that the Government had already taken steps to counter the threat of jihadists returning to commit atrocities, he said it had become clear that there was still a need to fill “gaps in our armoury”.
He will be making a statement to Parliament on Monday, giving details.
Mr Cameron said the Taliban had harboured and facilitated al Qaida terrorism, but IS was effectively a state run by terrorists.
“We could be facing a terrorist state on the shores of the Mediterranean and bordering a Nato member,” he added.
The gruesome murder of US journalist James Foley was “clear evidence – not that any more was needed – that this is not some far off (problem), thousands of miles away, that we can ignore”.
