Terror alert raised as 250 home-grown jihadists get ready to wage war on Britain’s streets

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Hardened by the brutal conflicts in Syria and Iraq, bands of extremists have returned in recent months and may be plotting a range of murderous attacks.

There is no suggestion of an imminent strike but upgrading the threat to severe – the second-highest level – is a measure of the concern at the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC).

As Nato leaders prepare to gather in Cardiff for next week’s summit, security sources said recent developments in Syria and Iraq are central to JTAC’s decision to lift the threat level.

The scale of the danger posed by returning jihadists was underlined earlier this week when a UK-born fighter threatened bloodshed on British streets.

In a grainy video, a masked extremist calling himself Amu Bakr said: “If there’s no other chance than to come back, then I’ll have to do that.

“I’m ready to take that step to come back if your armies, if your countries don’t stop attacking us.”

In the same film, a second Briton calling himself Abu Anwar al-Britani claimed he was prepared to carry out executions on innocent victims similar to the killing of US journalist James Foley by a British suspect known as Jihadi John.

It is estimated up to 1,000 British subjects have travelled to Syria where they have been “radicalised, militarised and de-humanised” while fighting with Islamic State terror group.

About half are believed to have come from London and about 250 are already back home with more on their way.

It is understood a large number of them are being kept under 24-hour surveillance. But security experts concede it is impossible to keep them all under a round-the-clock watch.

Scotland Yard Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley National Policing Lead for Counter-Terrorism, said yesterday: “The threat level from international terrorism has changed from SUBSTANTIAL to SEVERE in response to the developments in Syria and Iraq. This means it is highly likely that a terrorist attack could happen in the UK.

“We therefore continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to police. We need communities and families to bring to our attention anyone they perceive may be vulnerable, a danger or escalating towards terrorism. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.

“Public safety is our priority and we have a variety of established operational tactics that are regularly used to ensure that the UK is both well prepared and protected. Over the years we have built capabilities and enhanced our security arrangements against a consistently high level of threat. Much of this is already in place. Our aim is to reduce the risk to the public and we keep our security arrangements under constant review in line with the threat we face.

“We have activated the established planning mechanisms across the police service, coordinated by me as National Policing Lead on Counter Terrorism. This will lead to enhanced prevention and preparedness.

“From this afternoon we will begin to increase our levels of visible patrols and implement other security and protection measures. We will also build on existing community relations to provide reassurance and seek their support and assistance in keeping the UK safe.”

Earlier this week, Mr Rowley said arrests of suspected fanatics heading to or from Syria as well as fundraisers were running at five times the rate of last year.

About half of those being caught were not previously considered a terrorist risk.

Yesterday’s announcement is a highly effective way to alert the public to the dangers of returning jihadists.

Dr Steve Hewitt, senior lecturer in the Department of History at the University of Birmingham, said: “The increase, which is driven by the presence of westerners in the ranks of the Islamic State is designed to encourage greater public vigilance on the part of the public and a reminder that the threat of terrorism remains.”

Under its old name of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, IS was formed in 2013 and is an off-shoot of Al Qaeda.

In a sign of feuding among rival jihadist factions, Al Qaeda has dissociated itself from IS which has since grown into one of the biggest and most infamous groups fighting in the region.

It is led by a Al Qaeda veteran Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and is believed to have attracted up to 80 per cent of western jihadists although its present size is difficult to estimate. But it could be as a big as 25,000.

Al-Baghdadi and his cohorts are working towards the establishment of an Islamic caliphate which straddles Syria and Iraq which could provide a springboard for terror attacks in Britain and elsewhere.

Public executions including crucifixions, amputations and whippings are regular features of life under IS rule.

In a throwback to barbarism of medieval times, the bodies of those slaughtered for allegedly violating religious laws are left on crosses for days as warnings to others.

Children as young as 10 are said joining the terror training camps and have been forced to watch Friday beheadings execution by firing squad and women being stoned.

IS is also the richest terrorist group in history and may have cash and assets worth up to £1.18 billion, according to estimates by US experts.

It grabbed a large part of its fortune after stunning the world by over-running the northern Iraq city of Mosul in June.

If it clings on to oil fields in the region, the bugling war chest will get even bigger.

The elusive al-Baghdadi, nicknamed the Ghost, is the number one target for a combined CIA and special forces unit.

He has so far evaded capture and has reportedly escaped a US drone attack in recent days. 

Security experts believe his luck will run out sooner rather than later.

With his forces stretched and suffering defeats, his urgent phone calls to rally and regroup his troops could prove his weak point allowing US eavesdroppers to pinpoint his location.