More ISIS ‘homegrown’ terrorists in UK than Brits fighting ISIS terrorists in Iraq and Syria

Senior MI5 spies fear hardened fighters have returned to the UK intent on recruiting more fanatics to carry out attacks on our shores.

Intelligence chiefs believe hundreds of Brits have returned to the UK and are now living in areas with the highest concentrations of Muslims.

A source reported that up to 300 people who have returned from Syria after fighting for Isis (Daesh) are believed to be living in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, using innocent Muslims as cover.

He added that hundreds more are living in Birmingham, Leicester and Luton.

The source added: “The best place to hide a tree is in a forest – and this is what those who have fought for Isis are doing. They have basically relocated their HQ from Syria to the UK. The fear is they will begin recruiting and will wage terror on British soil.

“Those returning include both men and women, mainly under the age of 25, who are skilled in guerrilla warfare and bomb-making. The threat is very real.”

Tower Hamlets has more than 40 mosques and Muslims outnumber Christians in the London borough.

So-called Islamic State-style flags have flown in parts of the borough which was also home to three British schoolgirls who left the UK to join Isis in February 2015.

The threat from Islamist terrorism in the UK has never been so great and the police and MI5 are foiling attacks almost monthly.

Intelligence chiefs believe it is just a matter of time before Britain faces another major atrocity.

Self-declared Islamic State leaders have called on followers to join the Army and police to carry out attacks.

One terrorist manual claimed that attacks carried out in the Middle East are part of a wider strategy that includes plans to bring mayhem to the UK.

The handbook – the Management of Savagery – also claimed infiltration operations have been going on for years, meaning that a sleeper cell may already have got inside the MoD or a police force.

Written by jihadi Abu Bakr Naji, inset, the guide has been carefully studied by terrorist commanders in Syria and Iraq, who he tells: “Our battle is long and still in its beginning. However, its length provides an opportunity for infiltrating the adversaries.

“We should infiltrate police forces, armies, private security companies, and civil institutions.”

Source: Abna24