A chilling intelligence report has warned the West must not switch focus from trying to beat off terror threats from groups like al-Qaeda and Islamic State
Western governments must not fall prey to “counter-terrorism fatigue” after more than two decades of war against extremist attacks, a chilling intelligence report has warned. Even though the London 7-7 attacks which killed 52 and injured hundreds was 20 years ago, al-Qaeda and Islamic State are still going strong and want to commit terrorism, it says.
A new report from the US-based Soufan Centre, run by ex-FBI terror expert Ali Soufan, warns terror groups have modernised, freeing up fighters for attacks by using AI. And the threat from lone wolves and groups of violent extremists has evolved and remains a massive threat to western countries including the UK.
Israel’s wars, particularly in Gaza may also have rekindled jihadist plans to attack because the “post October 7 landscape presents a host of new threats for law enforcement.”
The Gaza conflict has, the report concludes, “led to deep societal polarisation. Even groups traditionally opposed to Hamas, including al-Qaeda and Islamic State have nevertheless sought to benefit from the conflict with Israel by lacing their propaganda with anti-Israel themes and messages in an attempt to mobilise their followers and supporters to commit acts of violence throughout the globe.”
But budget issues have set in after decades of war and counter-terror operations while jihadist networks remain a “major risk” across the globe and al-Qaeda is a “persistent threat.” Anarchy and chaos in Afghanistan means its old stomping ground has been freed up for training bases and become an “intelligence black hole.”
The report declares: “An enduring counter-terrorism challenge is that even as old threats evolved , adapted and remained, new ones have emerged.“ This is occurring against a backdrop of what some have dubbed ‘counter-terrorism fatigue’ wherein after two decades of fighting the global war on terrorism, elements of western governments have shifted focus, personnel and resources to other areas including great power competition and AI.
The Mirror revealed last year that Osama bin Laden’s supposedly slain son Hamza is now believed to be living in Afghanistan and US President Donald Trump’s boast he had been killed was wrong. Intelligence agencies fear Hamza is now the de facto head of al-Qaeda.
It means the bin Laden terror dynasty has likely lived on and that vengeance-filled Hamza will likely continue his father’s lifelong passion for global jihad.
“Yet it remains crucial not to become complacent about the very real threat posed by terrorist groups across the ideological spectrum as well as lone actors and homegrown, violent extremist extremists.” The report goes on to warn that Islamic State’s Afghan-Pakistan and the wider region franchise has modernised in line with technology.
It says: “It is not unreasonable to fathom that Islamic State in the Khorasan Province and other IS branches are using generative artificial intelligence to pre-programme dozens of propaganda channels uniquely tailored to resonate with the grievances of jihadist supporters in multiple countries simultaneously and at scale.”
It comes in the same week that the UK intelligence and security committee warned Iran is as big a danger in terms of physical attacks in the UK as Russia. The main targets are Israeli, Jewish and Iranian dissidents who are outspoken against the Tehran regime in the UK.
But it is feared society in general is still under threat from terror attacks as well. Iranian groups ave already conspired to create assasination plots and other violent acts against the Iranian diaspora living in the UK and speaking out against Iran’s rulers.