Former MI5 Head: Spy On Your Neighbors

Spy On Your Neighbours, Says Former MI5 Head Stella Rimington -- The Telegraph

People who suspect their neighbours may be extremists should inform the security services because “the enemy is everywhere”, the former head of MI5 has said.

Dame Stella Rimington invoked the wartime spirit as she said the public had a duty to act as the “eyes and ears” of the security services in combating terrorists.

She made the plea as she warned that MI5 could not be expected to spot every danger and that further attacks were likely unless Britain wanted a “Stasi” state where everyone was monitored.

However, Dame Stella, who was Director General of MI5 from 1992 to 1996, said she supported the Conservatives’ plans to give the police and spy agencies the power to monitor every phone call, email and web visit.

She also warned against using drones to gather intelligence saying they should only be “weapons of war”.

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My Comment: Growing up in the Soviet Union .... this is exactly what we were being told to do by Communist officials. And granted .... the Britain of today is not even remotely close to what the Soviet Union was .... it is still unnerving for someone like me to hear a government official (even a retired one) talk like that.

Murder Suspect Who Hacked To Death A British Soldier On A Busy London Street Was Offered A Job With MI5 Six Months Ago

Suspect: Michael Adebowale, 22, of Greenwich, south-east London, with a knife in his hand at the scene where Lee Rigby was stabbed to death

Woolwich Murder Suspect 'Was Offered Job With MI5'... While The Other Is Probation Officer's Son Who Chatted With His Neighbours About Jamie Oliver Recipes -- Daily Mail

* Michael Adebowale, 22, named as other suspect in murder of Lee Rigby
* He and Michael Adebolajo, 28, were shot by police after the attack
* Pair arrested on suspicion of murder - officers are waiting to speak to them
* Friend of Adebowale said he had converted to Islam and then 'changed' from fun-loving Christian schoolboy to violent fundamentalist

Woolwich murder suspect Michael Adebolajo was approached by MI5 six months before the killing - and rejected an offer to work for them, a childhood friend of his has claimed.

Abu Nusaybah told BBC Newsnight Adebolajo turned down the security service.

Meanwhile, it was claimed yesterday that Woolwich suspect Michael Adebowale became radicalised after trying to escape gangland ‘trouble’.

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More News On Woolwich Murder Suspect Being Offered A Job With MI5

Woolwich attack: MI5 'offered job to suspect' -- BBC
Woolwich attack: Michael Adebolajo was asked to work for MI5 claims friend -- The Telegraph
MI5 'tried to recruit' terrorism suspect -- Sydney Morning Herald
MI5 'tried to recruit London suspect' -- News.com.au
MI5 ‘tried to recruit’ Woolwich murder suspect -- RT
MI5 'tried to recruit' Michael Adebolajo, friend claims -- BBC (Video)

My Comment: This claim is coming from a friend .... but if it is true .... what can I say but this is unbelievable.

Update: Woolwich suspect's friend who made the claim that MI5 tried to recruit his friend was arrested after appearing on Newsnight. The Newsnight video where the claim was made that MI5 tried to recruit this murder suspect is here.

Britain's New MI5 Chief Announced

Photo: Andrew Parker Is Named As MI5 Director General

Spy Who Foiled Jet Bomb Plot To Be Britain's Intelligence Chief -- Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - A British counterspy who helped to thwart an al Qaeda plot to blow up planes with explosives hidden in soft drink bottles and led the response to the 2005 London transport bombings will be the new head of Britain's domestic intelligence agency, the U.K. government said on Thursday.

Andrew Parker has three decades' experience at the Security Service, known as MI5, countering Islamist militants, violent Irish republicans and organized criminals. He has been deputy chief since 2007, and once served as a British security liaison in the United States.

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More News On The Appointment Of Andrew Parker As Head Of Britain's MI5

Andrew Parker named as new head of MI5 -- BBC
MI5 deputy named as director general -- The Guardian
MI5 name birdwatcher as new head of spy agency -- The Telegraph
Keen birdwatcher who led UK response to 7/7 terror attacks takes over as director general of MI5 -- The Daily Mail
Career spy named new head of Britain's MI5 -- AFP

MI5 Director General Sir Jonathan Evans To Step Down

MI5 Director General Sir Jonathan Evans To Step Down Next Month -- The Independent

The head of MI5, Sir Jonathan Evans, is to step down next month after being in charge at a time when the Service faced the rising threat of Islamist extremism.

Sir Jonathan’s successor will be announced in the near future to take over from the end of next month. The selection process has been under way for some time and, it is believed, his deputy is a strong contender for the post.

The last four director-generals were chosen from within the Secret Service. The last one to come from outside was Sir Anthony Duff who was appointed at the age of 65 to carry out sweeping reforms within the organisation after scathing criticism by the Security Commission following the conviction on Michael Bettany, a MI5 officer was convicted of trying to pass secrets to the Soviet embassy in London.

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More News On MI5 Director General Sir Jonathan Evans Stepping Down

MI5 chief Sir Jonathan Evans to step down next month -- BBC
MI5 chief to step down, Theresa May says -- The Telegraph
Britain's top spy steps down after just six years as head of MI5 -- Daily Mail
Tributes as MI5 chief Sir Jonathan Evans steps down -- Express.co.uk
Head of MI5, UK’s domestic spying agency, to step down next month -- Washington Post/AP
Britain's MI5 spy chief to step down -- Times of India/Reuters
MI5 boss says: I’m quitting -- The SUN

MI5 Boss Talks About His Agency

British Spies 'Tempted To Cut Corners' In Bid To Catch Terrorists And Foreign Agents Says MI5 Boss -- Daily Mail

* Spies must act ethically, says Director General Sir Jonathan Evans
* Comments come amid criticism of plans for secret courts
* Justice and Security bill has been put forward by Government
* Bill would allow cases involving national security to be heard in private

New recruits to MI5 have been warned to behave within the law in order to maintain the public's trust in the security service.

MI5 head Sir Jonathan Evans claimed that many spies were tempted to 'cut corners' in their attempts to bring terrorists threatening the UK to justice.

The Director General of the intelligence agency said he had to warn spies to behave proportionally, ethically and legally to keep the the trust of both members of the public and ministers, and that cutting corners could result in longer term problems for the service.

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My Comment: MI5 has a cool website. The link is here.

Britain's Spy Chiefs Told To Focus On Cyber Attacks Not Terrorism

Concentrate On Cyber Attacks, Not Terrorism, Osborne Tells Spy Chiefs -- The Telegraph

The Chancellor is understood to have pushed MI5 and MI6 to consider devoting more money and manpower to defending Britain from cyber attacks and espionage from countries such as China.

British intelligence agencies’ counter-terrorism work could be scaled back after an intervention from George Osborne.

However, senior ministers and officials are resisting pressure from the Treasury, warning that cutting counter-terrorism spending is too much of a risk.

MI6, the Secret Intelligence Service, is said to be fighting a fierce rearguard action against any move to reallocate its counter-terrorism resources. Theresa May, the Home Secretary, is also said to be cautious about relaxing Britain’s defences against extremist attacks.

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My Comment: Cyber security is important .... but .... international terrorism still exists, and that conflict is still ongoing.

MI5 Chief: Terror Warnings And A New Generation Of British Born Terrorists

The head of Britain's MI5 intelligence Agency, Jonathan Evans. Photo: Reuters

Arab Spring Provided New Breeding Ground For British Terrorists – Spy Chief -- The Telegraph

The Arab Spring has spawned a new generation of British-born terrorists after al-Qaeda lured dozens of would-be bombers abroad to train for possible attacks on the UK, the head of MI5 warned.

Jonathan Evans said the terror network has taken advantage of the unstable region, in the wake of last year’s revolutions, to spread its influence and create new bases for attacks.

British would-be jihadis are known to be receiving training in the likes of Libya and Egypt, mirroring what has already happened in the Yemen and Somalia.

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MI5 Chief Issues Terror Concerns And Warnings

Arab Spring has produced new generation of British terrorists, warns MI5 chief -- Sydney Morning Herald
MI5 chief talks threats before Olympics -- FOX News/AP
MI5 chief says terror threat widening; Britain logs about 1 serious plot each year -- Washington Post/AP
MI5 warns al-Qaida regaining UK toehold after Arab spring -- The Guardian
Arab Spring Spawns New Generation of U.K. Jihadists, MI5 Says -- Bloomberg
UK domestic spy chief warns of possible return of Iran state-sponsored terror -- MSNBC

MI5 Chief Issues Warnings Of Cyber Attacks

MI5 boss Jonathan Evans has warned that companies in the UK are fending off an 'astonishing' level of cyberattacks. Image credit: Security Service

MI5 Fighting 'Astonishing' Level Of Cyber-Attacks -- BBC

MI5 is battling "astonishing" levels of cyber-attacks on UK industry, the intelligence agency's chief has said.

In his first public speech for two years, Jonathan Evans warned internet "vulnerabilities" were being exploited by criminals as well as states.

The attacks were a threat to the integrity of information, he added.

Mr Evans also warned the London 2012 Olympics was an "attractive target" for terrorist groups, but said security preparations were well under way.

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More News On The MI5 Chief's Report On Cyber Attacks In The U.K.

MI5 boss: Cyber spies, web-enabled crooks threaten UK economy -- The Register
MI5 chief: Massive cybercrime wave putting businesses at risk -- ZDNet
MI5’s cyber-attack warning -- The International News
MI5 chief: Cyber terror threat to UK companies is on an 'industrial scale', as he reveals one firm lost £800m -- This Is Money
MI5 chief: Cyber attack threat is "astonishing" -- Tech Eye
MI5 Chief Warns of 'Astonishing' Levels of Cyber Attacks -- International Business Times

Former MI5 Chief Criticizes"War On Terror"

MI5 Former Chief Decries 'War On Terror' -- The Guardian

Lady Eliza Manningham-Buller uses BBC lecture to criticise 'unhelpful' term, attack Iraq invasion and suggest al-Qaida talks.



Lady Eliza Manningham-Buller, the former head of MI5, delivered a withering attack on the invasion of Iraq, decried the term "war on terror", and held out the prospect of talks with al-Qaida.



Recording her first BBC Reith lecture on the theme, Securing Freedom, she made clear she believed the UK and US governments had not sufficiently understood the resentment that had been building up among Arab people, which was only compounded by the war against Iraq.



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My Comment: So .... according to Lady Eliza Manningham-Buller, 9/11 was a monstrous crime and not an act of war. Hmmmm .... if Bin Laden was still alive today I have a feeling that he would disagree.

British Detainees In Guantánamo Bay Received Approximately £12m

MI5 And MI6 Pay Out £12m Britons Held In Guantánamo -- The Telegraph

MI5 and MI6 agreed to pay around £12 million from their own budgets to former British detainees in Guantánamo Bay, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

The payments were made as Sir Peter Ricketts, the National Security Adviser, warned that spending cuts could damage morale in the intelligence services and threaten security.

Details of the payments are contained in the accounts for the security and intelligence agencies, which were published this week.

They show that the agencies spent £13.7 million on “losses and special payments” in the 12 months to the end of March this year.

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My Comment: You work for MI5 or Mi6, and former Guantanamo detainees end up earning more than you .... yup .... morale is going into the toilet.

MI5 Chief Sees Terror Threats Everywhere

MI5 Head Warns Of Serious Risk Of UK Terrorist Attack -- BBC News

The UK faces a continuing serious risk of a lethal terrorist attack taking place, the head of MI5 has warned.

Jonathan Evans raised concerns over the number of soon-to-be-freed inmates who are "committed extremists and likely to return to terrorist activities".

He also said Somalia and Yemen were important concerns for MI5, as a source of serious plots against the UK.

And, he said, the security service had not expected dissident republicanism to grow as it had in Northern Ireland.

Mr Evans, who made the rare public remarks to the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals in London, said dealing with international terrorism remained the main focus of MI5's efforts.

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More News On The MI5's Concerns About A Terror Attack In The UK

Britain facing a new wave of terrorist attacks, MI5 warns -- The Telegraph
UK under threat from home-grown terror attacks, says MI5 chief -- The Australian
Irish terrorists targeting UK mainland, warns MI5 -- The Daily Mail
UK spy chief warns of dissident Republican threat -- AP
Northern Irish dissidents may target mainland UK - MI5 -- Reuters
Jihadist attack looms, says MI5 chief -- Financial Times
MI5 Warns Of 'Somali Terror On UK Streets' -- SKY News
Threats from Somalia, Yemen rise - Britain's MI5 -- Reuters
MI5 chief warns of terror threat from Britons trained in Somalia -- The Guardian
UK extremists are travelling to Somalia to train, says MI5 chief -- The Independent

The Life Of A MI5 Agent

Annie Machon, former intelligence officer for MI5: 'I couldn't talk to my friends freely about my life, so they felt increasingly shut out' Photo: BRIAN SMITH

Annie Machon: My So-Called Life As A Spy -- The Telegraph

The murder of MI6 operative Gareth Williams last week has turned the spotlight on the shady world of espionage. Here, a former intelligence offer for MI5 explains why the life of a British spy is an insular one.

Spies have always loved living in Pimlico: a civilised area in central London, handy for strolling to the office, and wonderfully convenient for that midnight dash to work if your operation suddenly goes live. Plus, the local pubs are pretty good for the customary after-work moan.

I lived there myself when I worked as an intelligence officer for MI5 in the 1990s, so the murder of Gareth Williams in a nearby street gave me a bit of a jolt. While his death remains shrouded in mystery, what has been reported of his life sounds like classic GCHQ.

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My Comment: No surprises in the article, but still an interesting read.

Former MI5 Chief Damns The Invasion Of Iraq

Former MI5 Chief Delivers Damning Verdict On Iraq Invasion -- The Guardian

Lady Eliza Manningham-Buller tells Chilcot that invasion increased terrorist threat and radicalised young British Muslims.

The former head of MI5 delivered a devastating critique of the invasion of Iraq today, saying it substantially increased the threat of terrorist attacks in Britain and was a significant factor behind the radicalisation of young Muslims in the UK.

Lady Eliza Manningham-Buller told the Chilcot inquiry into the UK's role in Iraq: "Our involvement in Iraq radicalised, for want of a better word, a whole generation of young people – not a whole generation, a few among a generation – who saw our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as being an attack upon Islam."

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More News On The Testimony From A Former Head Of The MI5

Iraq war increased terrorist threat to the UK, former MI5 chief tells Chilcot Inquiry -- The Telegraph
Former MI5 chief demolishes Blair's defence of the Iraq war -- The Independent
Invasion of Iraq put Britain at risk, says M15 figure -- Irish Times
MI5 head felt ignored by No 10 over Saddam -- Financial Times
British Intelligence Chief Says Iraq War Increased Terror Threat -- Voice of America
Iraq inquiry: Saddam posed very limited threat to UK, ex-MI5 chief says -- The Guardian
MI5 Thought Hussein Would Launch WMD as Last Resort -- Global Security Newswire
Why did Tony Blair ignore MI5's advice? -- David Hughes, The Telegraph
Why did all these sceptical officials go along with the Iraq invasion? -- Crispin Black, The Guardian

MI5 Sees Islamist Terror As A Constant Threat

From CTV News:

Britain's Security Service believes the threat of Islamist terrorism has levelled off in recent years, though hard-core terrorists remain committed to their cause and will remain so for the foreseeable future.

Cambridge University historian Christopher Andrew writes about the issue in "The Defence of the Realm," an official history of the country's domestic spy service -- also known as MI5 -- that was released earlier this month.

Given access to 400,000 MI5 files, Andrew has dug deep into the 100-year history of the spy service for his 1,000-page work.

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My Comment: I agree with the assessment that Islamist Terror must be handled as a constant threat. Until Islam reforms itself, the extremist ideology that it helps to promote will be a constant threat to all of us for the foreseeable future.

MI5 Chief Jonathan Evans Defends 'Torture Intelligence'

Jonathan Evans, Director-General of MI5.
(Manchester Evening News/Reuters)

From Times Online:

The Director General of MI5 has issued a powerful defence of Britain's co-operation with intelligence agencies in America and other countries accused of the abuse and torture of detainees, saying they had stopped "many attacks" in the aftermath of the September 11 strikes.

Speaking for the first time about charges of MI5 complicity in the abuse of suspects overseas, Jonathan Evans said Britain had had to get overseas help at the time of the strikes on New York's World Trade Centre as its own knowledge of al Qaeda was inadequate and the terrorist network might have hit again "imminently".

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My Comment: I would love to know what information he is talking about that has assisted MI5 in stopping terrorist attacks.

The Secret's Out: MI5 Look For A Real-Life Q

The London headquarters of MI5. Photograph: Frank Baron

From The Scotsman:

BRITISH security service MI5 is recruiting a real-life Q to equip its agents with the gadgets James Bond would dream of.
The job of chief scientific adviser is being advertised on MI5's website, with the successful applicant expected to use their expertise to thwart terrorist operations around the world.

Candidates for the "unique and challenging" role need to have
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"world-class scientific expertise and credibility", "strategic skills", "influencing and communication skills" as well as a track record of "managing critical projects and processes in a complex environment".

The post will take up two or three days a week, the advert adds.

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12 Arrested In U.K. Anti-Terror Swoop After Secrets Leak

Assistant Commissioner Robert Quick arriving at No 10 for a briefing with Jacqui Smith and Gordon Brown Photo: Steve Back

Major MI5 Operation Against Al-Qaeda Endangered By Security Breach -- Times Online

A huge MI5 and police counterterrorist operation against al-Qaeda suspects had to be brought forward at short notice last night after Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism chief accidentally revealed a briefing document.

Twelve people were arrested, ten of them born in Pakistan, at eight separate addresses after a long covert surveillance operation involving MI5 and police from the North West Counter-Terrorism Unit was compromised.

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More News On MI5's Operation Against Al-Qaeda

Terror blunder: Met anti-terror chief's mistake -- The Telegraph
Twelve arrested in counter-terrorism raids -- Reuters
Bob Quick's police future hangs in balance after document blunder -- The Guardian
Police chief's blunder forces terror officers to mount 'al-Qaeda' swoops -- The Scotsman
Anti-terror swoops follow months of surveillance -- The Guardian
Police chief’s leak forces terror raid -- The Independent
Blunder as top terror cop accidentally shows secret documents -- The Mirror

Spy Networks From 20 Countries Are Operating In Britain

MI5 Logo (Image from Wikipedia)

Britain Under Attack From 20 Foreign Spy Agencies Including France And Germany -- The Telegraph

Spies from 20 foreign intelligence agencies, including Nato allies such as France and Germany, are attempting to steal Britain's most sensitive secrets.

Russia and China have been identified as having the most active spy networks operating in the UK but it is understood that some European countries are also involved in espionage attacks against Britain.

Details of the spy plots were revealed in a government security document obtained by The Sunday Telegraph which states that Britain is "high priority espionage target" for 20 foreign intelligence agencies.

Security sources have revealed that the list of foreign agencies operating within the UK includes Iran, Syria, North Korea and Serbia, as well as some members of the European Union, such as France and Germany, who have traditionally been regarded as allies.

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My Comment: What is there to steal in England? .... British secrets that are related to the military, optics, communications, genetics and aviation industries .... Hmmmm .... I have trouble believing that these secrets would be worth grabbing.