Isis plotting major attack on UK using British terrorists

An image of an Isis fighter flying an Isis flag

Isis have been plotting to launch a major attack on British soil

Reuters
Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 29/06/2023

- 18:05

Islamic extremists have been planning a ‘big attack’ at a major public gathering on British soil

Terrorists from Islamic State have been plotting to carry out a large-scale atrocity in the United Kingdom, Iraqi intelligence officials have revealed.

The radical Islamic group, also known as Daesh, had planned to use British terrorists to pull off the attack.


A raid from Baghdad's Golden Division in the depths of the Iraqi desert uncovered the shocking Isis plot.

Iraq’s chief counter terror officer General Abdul Wahab al-Saadi said the Islamic State raid revealed British-based terrorists were making plans for a “big attack” on a major public gathering.

Iraq\u2019s chief counter terror officer General Abdul Wahab al-Saadi Iraq’s chief counter terror officer General Abdul Wahab al-Saadi Reuters

He said: “We discovered that the UK is the next target outside Iraq.”

General al-Saadi added: “In the past few weeks, we launched major operations against Daesh or Islamic State and killed [a] large number of terrorists.

“In one raid there were about five of them, all quite senior.

“I can tell you that from the information we found at the site of one of our recent raids the next intended terror attack will be in the United Kingdom.”

Iraq’s counter-terrorism chief confirmed British nationals were among the members of the cell and the information acquired has now been handed over to the UK’s secret services.

He added: “We do have evidence that terrorists here are in contact with extremists in the United Kingdom and that they are plotting.

“I cannot tell what form the attack they want to launch would take as it can be a car, a knife, a gun, a bomb.”

The Isis cell were reportedly prioritising efforts to attack the UK, France, Belgium and Germany.

Police at the Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by US star Ariana Grande

Police at the Manchester Arena at the end of a concert by US star Ariana Grande

PA

Jihadists from Daesh emerged from the embers of Al-Qaeda and made significant progress in taking territory across Iraq and Syria in 2014.

Former SAS trooper Phil Campion appeared on GB News to discuss the threat from Daesh in 2023.

He told Patrick Christys: “The scary thing is with the online stuff that goes on, you almost got a franchise organisation - people can take those ideologies and open up another one.”

Campion added: “Our security services work around the clock to get this sort of stuff but like I say things can be dug up and information can be gathered from across the globe.

People attend a ceremony on Westminster Bridge in London

People attend a ceremony on Westminster Bridge in London

PA

“And, you know, they’ve obviously got a little bit lucky with the information which has been gathered from Iraq lately.”

Baghdad has worked tirelessly to loosen Isis’ grip across Iraq and now hopes to route them out of the region.

Isis have claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks across the West, including many in the United Kingdom.

Jihadists from Daesh claimed responsibility six years ago following attacks on Westminster, Manchester Arena, London Bridge and Parsons Green.

However, officials in the United Kingdom foiled other Daesh-led plots, including an attempt to kill then-Prime Minister Theresa May in 2017 and bomb St Paul’s Cathedral in 2020.

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