LOC15:45
12:45 GMT
LONDON, Nov 3 (KUNA) -- A member of the terror group blamed for last week's
cargo plane bomb plot was arrested in the UK on suspicion of planning an
attack in this country earlier this year, the Home Secretary revealed
Wednesday.
Theresa May made the disclosure in her first major speech on
counter-terrorism.
The suspect was allegedly a member of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula,
the group linked to the powerful bombs hidden in printer cartridges found on
US-bound cargo planes at East Midlands Airport and in Dubai on Friday.
Mrs May said: "An Aqap (al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula) un-named
associate was arrested here earlier this year.
"He is alleged to have been planning a terrorist attack in this country.
Threats such as these are likely to continue."
The Home Secretary went on: "We know that people from this country have
already gone to Somalia to fight.
"It seems highly likely, given experience elsewhere, that if left to their
own devices we would eventually see British extremists, trained and hardened
on the streets of Mogadishu returning to the UK and seeking to commit mass
murder on the streets of London."
Mrs May said the Government's review of its counter-terrorism strategy, due
to report later this year, will include "significant changes" leading to a
"much better balance than we have at present".
She added: "The success of our domestic counter-terrorism work here depends
on international co-operation and collaboration overseas.
"The investigation of terrorist plots in this country will almost always
lead overseas."
Mrs May went on: "Most threats to the UK continue to come from the
federally-administered tribal areas of Pakistan.
"When we have a Pakistani diaspora of over one million people, and there
are hundreds of thousands of journeys between our countries every year, what
goes on in Pakistan matters on the streets of Britain."
Mrs May said: "Where necessary we will enhance our protective security
measures; we will invest in conflict prevention and stopping terrorist plots
overseas; we will refocus the strategy for preventing radicalisation in the
UK; and we will strike a better balance between our liberties and our
security.
"There is much good work under way to tackle the terrorist threat....But
where there needs to be change I will not be afraid to make it."
She added: "I want an approach which is more targeted against extremist
individuals, but that impacts much less on the good people of our communities.
"I want an approach which allows people to enjoy their liberty in safety
and security.
"And I want an approach that is effective in dealing with an evolving
threat. That is what we will deliver." (end)
he.ajs
KUNA 031545 Nov 10NNNN