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LONDON -- Iran may return to a campaign of state-sponsored terrorism, the head of MI5, the U.K.'s internal counter-intelligence and security service, said during a wide-ranging talk in London's financial center late Monday.
NBC News has also learned that the British Security Service, MI5's official name, has substantially expanded its team dealing with possible terrorism threats from Iran.
"In parallel with rising concern about Iran’s nuclear intentions, we have seen in recent months a series of attempted terrorist plots against Israeli interests in India, Azerbaijan and elsewhere," Jonathan Evans, director general of MI5, said at a lecture here at the official residence of the Lord Mayor of London, Mansion House. "The U.S. authorities last year uncovered a plot by the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to mount an attack on the Saudi Ambassador in America, and of course the IRGC leads straight back to the Iranian leadership."
Just days after the U.S. says it foiled a shocking plan —allegedly orchestrated by Iran -- to assassinate a Saudi diplomat at a Washington, D.C., restaurant, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discusses the "dangerous escalation" in Iran's support for terrorism with TODAY's Savannah Guthrie.
Bangkok blasts wound Iranian attacker, 4 others
While Iran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and not aimed at making weapons as suspected by Western nations, tensions are high in the region. A recent round of nuclear talks between Iran and world powers in Moscow failed to secure a breakthrough, heightening fears Israel might take unilateral military action to curb Iran's nuclear activities, and thus unleash a violent response from Tehran.
"So a return to state-sponsored terrorism by Iran or its associates, such as Hezbollah, cannot be ruled out as pressure on the Iranian leadership increases," Evans said during his first public statement in two years.
Hezbollah is a Lebanese Shiite militant group.
US officials vow to hold Iran accountable for alleged assassination plot
During the annual defense and security lecture, titled "The Olympics and Beyond," Evans said preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympic Games have been thorough. But he said the 2012 Summer Games remain a target and will be the center of the world's attention.
"No doubt some terrorist networks have thought about whether they could pull off an attack. But the Games are not an easy target and the fact that we have disrupted multiple terrorist plots here and abroad in recent years demonstrates that the U.K. as a whole is not an easy target for terrorism," he said.
In February, British police, fire and ambulances tested their ability to manage should terrorists strike the Games. NBC's Duncan Golestani reports.
At London Olympics, dogs have sniffed out a key anti-terror role
The threat level was at "substantial," Evans said, which meant that an attack was a strong possibility.
Terrorism will outlast the Games, he said, noting that there had not been a successful al-Qaida related strike on the U.K. since the July 7, 2005, subway and bus attacks in London that killed 54, including four bombers, and injured more than 700.
However, there had been a "credible terrorist attack plot about once a year since 9/11 -- and before, since the first al-Qaida inspired plot here took place in 2000 -- a year before 9/11."
Assistant Commissioner Chris Allison of the UK Metropolitan Police will head up the security effort for the 2012 Olympics in London. He says the games will be the UK's largest peacetime security operation in the nation's history.
Report: Fake bomb exposes London Olympic security
The MI5 chief also warned businesses not to become complacent about malicious activity in cyberspace.
"The extent of what is going on is astonishing -- with industrial-scale processes involving many thousands of people lying behind both state-sponsored cyber espionage and organized cyber crime," he said.
Evans also touched on the Arab Spring, which he said "offers the long term hope of a more pluralistic, democratic and flexible system in the Arab world that will respond to the aspirations of its population."
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The swift and sometimes violent change in the Arab world also presented a problem, however, as parts of the region become more "permissive" environments for al-Qaida extremists. Said Evans:
"A small number of British would-be jihadis are also making their way to Arab countries to seek training and opportunities for militant activity, as they do in Somalia and Yemen. Some will return to the U.K. and pose a threat here. This is a new and worrying development and could get worse as events unfold. So we will have to manage the short term risks if there is to be a longer-term reward from the Arab Spring."
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i don't think so! everytime they will think about it, they will remember what happened to iraq and afghanistan. death and destruction.
Yes, the USA wrecked Iraq and Afghanistan with inept invasions and incompetent military gov't occupations harming millions of civilians in the chaos the US created. Who wants that under the ruse of "freedom"?
Nothing smells quite like Bullsh!t, and the US and UK serve it like no other. Amazing that the CIA and MI5 are allowed to operate all over the world, spreading their subterfuge. But if any other country thinks about it, they are called terrorists? Can you say, hypocrites!
"Return to state terrorism? " Have they ever left it? Ask the people in Bahrein.Sudan.Saudia Arabia and many other places.Iranian sponsored state terrorism is very alive and well!
What is the involvement of Iran in Bahrain? Even a commission organized by the stupid "King" of Bahrain concluded that there was no Iranian involvement in the demonstrations against the barbaric government that arrests people arbitrarily, tortures them and kills them.
If you want to look for terrorism, look no further than Israel and the US, the two biggest terrorist countries in the world who assassinate people, launch computer viruses on other countries, send drones to kill people and sponsor terrorists like the Jundullah against Iran.
Iran's WMDs and terrorism support are cock and bull stories just like before Iraqi wars.
Many British are yet to come to present world!
In Bahrain, highly autocratic, corrupt, despotic, bigoted sevent century mindset Sunni Saudis and their Arab League pals sent their forces to save another equally barbaric minority Sunni ruler against majority Shiites peaceful protestors!
When it comes to Bahrain, US, British, UN and its agencies and human rights agencies go into hiding.
See how Saudis & co cry babies and their puppets in the US, Britain and other places are lecturing and doing dances on Syria and Iran.
For a change, let the Saudis and co handle their own battles in ME instead of outsourcing to the US, British and others!!
@ Quint;
Always remember Quint as far as terrorism goes they drew first blood, we shall draw the last. The Lion would still be sleeping had they not poked it.
As far as Iran,they wish for ours and Isreals destruction outwardly. Should we just ignore this threat(possibly nuclear) and hope it goes away. lol. That would be foolhardy doncha think?
In the words of ghetto fabulous "dont start no sh.. wont be no sh.."" lol
This is how America rolls my brother Quinton.
Bart is making up stuff again. Iran has not been sponsoring any terrorism anywhere in the world. They support Hezbollah with some weapons and Hamas with some money and that is about all. Hezbollah and Hamas are "freedom fighters" in their own lands. They are simply trying to protect their lands from Israeli occupation and theft. The Israelis occupied Lebanon for 18 years and that occupation was the reason for the formation of Hezbollah.
Perhaps a false flag attack will take place at the London Olympics. It is a tactic Israel has used before, 9/11 being the last.
That assassination plot against the Saudi Ambassador has already been discredited by experts, as bunch of baloney.
The American people have stopped swallowing this nonsense, ever since they found out the WMD in Iraq was non existent and there never was a threat. Thirty five percent of Americans now realize that 9/11 was an inside job. The next false flag attack will be much harder to pull off. If they are caught, the s--t will hit the fan.
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/fiveisraelis.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A3dW_gUwOg
RalphH...
Yep, your links prove it...How could I have been so stupid all of these years?
Hey BTW...I have a factory that produces tinfoil...you sound like you might have a pretty good market I can penetrate? Interested in doing any business?
Coral Taxi :
Always remember Quint as far as terrorism goes they drew first blood, we shall draw the last....Nothing wrong with your comment except US and Israel mind too much others non of their business and loves to control Arab Muslims...
if both countries would mind their business, the middle east would be peaceful today.
Dont forget back in the 1950 s it was the Jews that declare war on Muslims to take over Palestine and turn it in to Israel their own state and US helped them achieve that! so you can see where the trouble start!
@ Max; You sir are seriously kidding yourself.
FACT
Then they all got their arses handed to them.
Please give me one example of how we love to control Muslims? lol Your statement would be much truer if you said we love to control terror.
Is this report for real? This is such an old and discredited story that only stupid Hillary could repeat it. So, what happened to the drunk used car salesman that they arrested? Why has he not been put on trial?
It is pathetic to resurrect these lies. The whole thing was a sting operation conceived and concocted by the FBI. The claims are simply laughable.
Obviously the spy chief's self aggrandization.
Glad he is the spy cheif, only a chap that sneaky could blow smoke up his own arse.
Most of the terror plans and attacks in UK have Paki connection.
Her Majesty's servants miss their "strategic" and "trusted" ally Pakistan in their calculations.
See the jokers in UK!
Most of the houses around Olympics' place have the security guards against possible terrorist attacks!
If their Queen marches five steps forward and backward, then everything is fine in UK!!
They are insulting other's intelligence when they repeat their lectures and dramas just like before Iraqi wars!
Most of the terror plans in UK, European nations, and the US have Saudi, Paki or Somalia connections.
Now many Saudi, oil companies, extremist Jewish lobbys and their agents are seeing Syria and Iran even below their beds!
They don't understand that Iraqi wars and high oil price manipulations by Saudis and oil companies have caused economic wrecks in PIIGS and many nations are on line!
Quinterius; your comments are moronic at best, inflammatory and lack credibility. The old King (Little King) loved Americans and catered to them. I was in Saudi and went to Bahrain for relaxation. Some of my friends were personally invited into the Bahrain Palace as guests, common people. The Shiites are causing trouble in Bahrain and are the majority but don't have important jobs. Their alliegence is to Iran. The Saudis don't put up w/ any crap from shia. The US military is welcome in Saudi, Bahrain and the Emirates. The solution to Iranian problems is to attack their bases and wipe out the military so the people can form the government they want. No US troops on the ground, our military can accomplish the wipeout in a couple days. Now, anyone who will believe an European 'intelligence' souce is an idiot. They already did that and it was called 'the Gulf War for WMDs' that were non existent. I was a private participant in both 'wars'. Rediculous 'wars'.
Propaganda BS. The US/Israel/Europe are trying the old war formula. WW1 and WW2 both saved a failing global economy.
The lies aren't even believable anymore. Any terrorism they try to point at Iran doesn't hold water. Hillary and the MI5 are repeating the same lies - the exact same bogus stories that were discredited within days by alternative media.
Whatever. I work for a defense contractor. War means money. I'm not going to stand up and oppose it - but that doesn't mean I'm stupid enough to swallow it.
People of the civilized free-thinking world need to quickly comprehend that islam is a virus. I have said this before but feel it needs to be repeated. islam spreads just like a virus attacking innocents without rhyme or reason, leaving nothing but death and destruction in its wake. Science and logic have never killed a virus. The only thing we can do is observe the brain-washed carriers of this virus, and leave it alone. Eventually the virus will kill all its hosts. You can see what I am speaking of if you observe Iraq. Since the US left this country the virus carriers are now killing each other. No more hosts, no more virus. Problem solved. allah be praised. Know any good virus carriers?
I agree!
When Shiites and Sunnis are killing each other in Iraq, Syria, Iran, Pakistan and other places, just keep away and don't jump in.
Where was the need for 1991 Iraqi war just to save the most ungrateful and bigoted Kuwaiti, UAE, Saudi and other rulers from Saddam?
Where was the need for US soldiers to guard bigoted Sunni Saudi ruler with his 5000 princes and princesses without Bibles?
What did we get in return?
We have economic mess all around us.
Let them kill each other to heart's content and then we shall worry about the remaining.
Also kick out most of the Muslims from non-Muslim nations as many are Trojan horses waiting for continuing their battles for Muslim laws and rules later. Many have become liabilities and curses in our nations.
Just see the US and UK cases!
Hey Jonathan, lets kick out the dual loyalty Jews from America, instead of the Arabs. Talk about your Trojan horses, those bloodsuckers have been feasting off the American taxpayer since Israel was founded. It was Jews that planned and sold the war in Iraq, using the Zionist controlled media and the neoconservative plants in the Pentagon, such as Paul Wolfowitz, Douglas Feith, Eliot Abrams, David wurmser and others.
Zionist
warmongers like Ken Adelman and the Zionist Washington Post pushed the war in
an editorial titled, “Cakewalk in Iraq.” Jewish supremacists Richard Perle and
Paul Wolfowitz told you that Iraq would “Welcome us as liberators.” Iraq became
the longest war in American history. Here is a report from USA Today: “Pentagon
officials estimated for the first time Wednesday that up to 360,000 Iraq and
Afghanistan veterans may have suffered traumatic brain injuries.” Now that’s
not counting tens of thousands who have suffered maiming, amputations, or death
in this war based on lies.
RalphH: I don't think we have to do much.
By being too smart on Syria, Iran and other places (Iraq earlier), Jews are digging their own graves.
They should know that you can't fight them all and win them all!
Ever notice that no matter how often Islamic nations attack us or burn our flag left-wing bigots always come here to blame Israel.
I have a high regard for British Intelligence - except...
Iran has never stopped sponsoring terrorism. They only stopped doing so OPENLY.
Iran is a terrorist nation, like most all middle-eastern countries.
Violence, especially sectarian violence, comes naturally to the life forms that live there, much like breathing.
@Jeff - because there's just no such thing as a right-wing bigot, right?
I hate to break it to you, but... our support of the non-nation made up of terrorists, liars, and thieves, better known as "Zionists" or "Israel" IS 98% of the reason terrorist Islamic Nations (Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, et al) DO hate us - because they HATE the invasive zionists and everything they stand for, as well as any who would be their allies. Ever heard the expression "Friends of my Enemy are my Enemy"? Or heard of the Law of Excluded Middle? Or XOR? As long as we continue to support them, we will have enemies in the middle east.
Sadly, it is because of the right-wing we back the parasitic non-nation. In their misguided attempts to understand and profit from the nature of Divinity, they've thrown in with wrong team. Somehow duped into believing the ancient tales of the jews to be true, when virtually every "sacred word" was stolen from neighboring religions, and they conveniently cannot offer a single shred of hard evidence to back their claims that any event described in their texts ever took place.
But, hey, if it makes you feel better to call someone with open eyes and the ability to think logically a bigot, then lump me in too. I've seen the emperor's new clothes, and I know him to be naked. The rest of you can keep disillusioning yourselves, but count me out.
Actually the saying is, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend".
And "The Enema of my Enemy is my Amusement."
Why wouldn't they resort to terrorism? The US has already attacked Iran (Stuxnet/Flame virus) in a form of cyber terrorism. This is according to the US government themselves, using their own definition of cyber terrorism. I didn't think Iran would just sit there and take it. The US is definitely provoking them to action...
Indigo-Rage
Ummm Indigo, not sure where you get your information, but it is pretty UNDISPUTED that Judaism was before Christianity and Islam...as well as Chritianity was before Islam by about 600+ years....
All people with 7 digits at the end of their names have been flagged by msnbc and are being watched closely. I don't give that bunch much credibility if they have participated in enough verbal abuse of other posters to get such a tag.
IT puzzles me how some people here think that Iran is a terror state and israel is not.
The one who initiates the attack deserves everything they get, and Israel has been under attack from Islam ever since its creation.
Not much news of those Iranians captured in Thailand after their inept explosion.