MPs at risk from radical Islamic loners

SCOTLAND YARD is preparing to embark on a wide-raging review of the security of all 650 MPs in light of intelligence that lone Muslim “self-radicalisers” may be targeting politicians.

Well-placed police officials said yesterday that the perceived security problem has now extended across all MPs, with the possibility of an attack by a self-radicalised Islamist extremist now being raised in recent intelligence reporting.

The latest intelligence coincides with growing concern in the Metropolitan police and Whitehall about David Cameron’s decision to jettison much of his personal-protection detail and his insisting on walking around and travelling without motorcycle outriders.

Terrorist “chatter” is said to have spiked recently as the England football team prepare for next month’s World Cup finals in South Africa.

But senior security sources say the real threat is also growing closer to home, with individual politicians among high- profile individuals at risk of being singled out for a shooting or stabbing attack similar to that involving Theo Van Gogh, a Dutch film-maker, in 2004.

Richard Kemp, former chairman of Whitehall’s Cobra intelligence committee, said he was aware of information being circulated last week about an attack by a loner.

“This is the sort of tactic which we can expect to see more often. In terms of impact, it’s better to go for a public figure. But it’s a low-level tactic which is much more difficult to detect because there is no requirement for a cell to organise this. So the chances of being able to identify and interdict such an attack are very slim.”

Internet messages by senior Al-Qaeda figures such as Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama Bin Laden’s deputy, encourage followers to carry out low-level attacks, advising them to “go out and do what you can”.

Kemp said high-profile figures, not just MPs, were potential targets. He pointed to the case of Van Gogh, who was shot and stabbed to death in broad daylight in Amsterdam by Mohammed Bouyeri, a Dutch-born Muslim fanatic of Moroccan descent.

With the threat assessment at “severe” meaning that an attack is highly likely, MI5 has becoming increasingly concerned about the role of so-called self-radicalising loners in future terrorist attacks.

Last year Andrew Ibrahim, a former public-school boy, was found guilty of plotting to carry out a suicide bombing using a vest packed with explosives at a Bristol shopping centre.

He became radicalised after researching on the internet about the lives of people such as Abu Hamza, the hate cleric.

Patrick Mercer, former chairman of the Commons counter-terrorism committee, said the last time MPs were given specific security advice was after an anthrax scare in the wake of the September 11 attacks on America in 2001. “Prevention is always better than cure. Training and awareness of the threat for MPs would not go amiss,” he said.

Particular concern has been raised about the prime minister’s security after it emerged that he had refused police motorcycle outriders and is now walking around Whitehall with just a couple of protection officers visible nearby.

Dai Davies, former head of Scotland Yard’s royalty and diplomatic protection branch, said Cameron’s attitude had caused alarm at the Yard.

“They are tearing their hair out because he’s being totally cavalier about his security. He’s just walking about on the green opposite the Commons with just one or two protection officers by his side. That’s almost an invitation for someone to attack him,” Davies said.