MI5 chief warns al-Qaeda in Syria planning mass attacks on West
Al-Qaeda militants in Syria are plotting attacks to inflict mass casualties in the West, possibly against transport systems or "iconic targets", the head of MI5 Security Service said on Thursday.
"A group of core al Qaeda terrorists in Syria is planning mass casualty attacks against the West," Director General Parker said in a rare public speech at MI5 headquarters in London. His last public speech was in October 2013.
Parker said around 600 British extremists had travelled to Syria, many joining the militant group which calls itself "Islamic State" and has taken control of swathes of Iraq and Syria.
