UK faces ‘direct threat’ and terror level ‘should be raised to severe’, says Colonel – World News

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The fall of Afghanistan has inspired jihadis says Colonel Richard Kemp, as he warns of a ‘direct threat to our country’ which should see the Government increase counter-terrorist assets

The former head of British forces in Afghanistan says the UK’s terror threat level should be raised to severe.

Colonel Richard Kemp warns there is an imminent prospect of attacks on British soil by jihadis inspired by the fall of Kabul.

Col Kemp, who has advised the Government on counterterrorism, warned: “This is a direct threat to our country.”

The current national threat level is substantial and the next level is severe – which British spooks say means an attack is ‘highly likely’.

The rating is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, which works with MI5.

It was lowered from severe in February.

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Normally it is changed in relation to events much closer to home than Kabul.

The threat level was last hiked in November following which a spate of attacks in which four people were shot dead in Vienna, Austria, three died in a knife attack in Nice, southern France, and a teacher was murdered in Paris.

Col Kemp told the Sunday Mirror: “Given the immediately increased threat from British jihadists inspired and motivated by events in Afghanistan the Government should seriously consider raising the UK threat level and increasing counter-terrorist assets available to the intelligence services and police.

“Jihadists everywhere have been celebrating the Taliban victory. This will have re-energised them, encouraged them and motivated them to strike.

“Recruiting to their cause will be through the roof. The Taliban will allow Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State to operate on territory they control, their numbers and morale boosted by thousands of terrorists released from prison by the Taliban.”

His warning comes after dire warnings of the prospect of a fresh 9/11 in the UK. And Col Mr Kemp’s fears were shared by the former head of MI5, Lord Evans, who warned that terrorists would be inspired by “the failure of western power in Afghanistan”.

Lord Evans added: “That may well create a certain amount of energy in the wider networks that are still in existence in Britain and across the west. This does mean an increase in threat over coming months and years.”

And an intelligence source added: “There has been a lot of chatter on Jihadi websites and the fall of Kabul is being viewed by Islamists as an inspired victory.”

Security at key sites across the UK such as military bases, Parliament and Government offices is likely to be increased.

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It is also understood that British and US Special Forces will establish secret bases in neighbouring countries which will be used to target any terrorist bases in Afghanistan in the weeks and months ahead. On Friday Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Yemeni branch of the terrorist organisation, hailed the fall of Afghanistan.

In a chilling boast, the fanatics said: “This victory and empowerment reveals to us that jihad and fighting represent the (Islamic law)-based, legal, and realistic way to restore rights (and) expel the invaders and occupiers

“As for the game of democracy and working with simple pacifism, it is a deceptive mirage, a fleeting shadow, and a vicious circle that starts with a zero and ends with it.”

Defence chiefs have been stunned by how quickly the Afghan Army collapsed following the withdrawal of US troops last month.

The Taliban funded its war against the Afghan National Army, as well as British and US troops, by cashing in on Afghanistan’s position as the largest exporter of opium in the world.

Now there are fears that the cash could also be used to fund other terrorists groups such as Al-Qaeda who have re-established a foothold in the country.

Cesar Gudes, the head of the Kabul office of the UN Office of Drugs and Crime, said: “The Taliban have counted on the Afghan opium trade as one of their main sources of income. More production brings drugs with a cheaper and more attractive price, and therefore a wider accessibility.”

A leaked confidential report compiled by NATO showed the group also gets money from mining, property, and unnamed regional benefactors.