MI5 DIRECTOR GENERAL WARNS OF TERRORIST THREAT

"THE INTERNATIONAL TERRORIST THREAT TO THE UK"

200 cells, 1600 people, 30 plots. Are you doing enough to prepare?

Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller, the Director General of the Security Service, gave a speech at Queen Mary College, London on 9 November 2006 in which she warned of the continuing threat of terrorism and described how the Security Service and others were combating it.

She was addressing an invited audience of academics, students and journalists as a guest of Professor Peter Hennessy, Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History on behalf of the Mile End Group. The Group is an arm of the Mile End Institute for the Study of British Government, Intelligence and Society.

Dame Eliza spoke of the current threat, the factors that lie behind the increase in terrorism and the work that is being done to counter it. She paid tribute to the efforts of Security Service staff and the police, citing the risks that they face in protecting the public. Pointing out that the current threat began well before 9/11,

Dame Eliza cited a range of factors that were motivating acts of terrorism, such as perceived injustices against Muslims around the world, extreme interpretations of Islam and aspects of UK foreign policy. The threat has increased steadily since 9/11. Dame Eliza noted that the Security Service and the police are aware of dozens of plots to kill people and damage the British economy, with 200 networks and over 1,600 individuals currently under investigation.

The Security Service is currently expanding to meet the threat but Dame Eliza warned that even when it reaches its target of 3,500 staff by 2008, it will not be able to prevent every terrorist attack. She argued that the security of the UK depended on all its citizens working together to thwart terrorism, as all of its citizens - regardless of ethnicity or faith - are at risk.

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