Britain faces a “serious and sustained threat from violent extremists claiming to act in the name of Islam”, according to the first National Security Strategy, published today”At any one time the police and security and intelligence agencies are contending with around 30 plots, 200 groups or networks and 2,000 individuals who are judged to pose a terrorist threat,” the strategy says. Many of these networks and individuals “share an ambition to cause mass casualties without warning. Some are willing to use suicide attacks and have aspirations to use chemical, biological and radiological weapons.” Other groups, such as “dissident Irish republican activism, animal rights extremists and others also continue to require attention”, the strategy says. Christopher Hope reports.
