The security expert has issued a warning regarding a significant security threat posed by Iran to the UK. This warning comes after a terror group associated with Iran took credit for an antisemitic attack in north London, where four Hatzola ambulances were deliberately set on fire during the early hours of Monday morning in Golders Green. The police are currently investigating the incident following an online claim made by the terror group.
Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, the group behind the attack, posted a message on Telegram claiming responsibility and shared an unverified video showing Google Maps images of the ambulances and footage of the explosions. While the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, mentioned that it is premature to link the attack directly to Iran, he acknowledged the increasing threats posed by the Iranian state.
According to security expert Professor Anthony Glees, both the UK and Europe are facing a severe security threat orchestrated by Iran, specifically by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The emergence of Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia coincides with the ongoing conflicts involving Iran, the US, and Israel, with the group’s Telegram channel reportedly established recently.
The new terror group is believed to have affiliations with pro-Iranian networks, as noted by Israel’s ministry for diaspora affairs and combating antisemitism. Glees expressed concerns about the lack of proscription of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the Terrorism Act 2000 in the UK, emphasizing the importance of intelligence and legislation in combating terrorism effectively.
Glees highlighted that the IRGC’s targets include defense establishments, Jewish communities, and UK universities. The threat posed by Iran-backed activities has been a focal point for the UK’s intelligence agencies, with MI5 tracking over 20 potentially fatal plots linked to Iran in the past year. The head of UK counter-terrorism policing reported a significant increase in national security cases involving hostile states like Iran, Russia, and China, indicating a rising trend in foreign state activities.
In conclusion, the UK’s security landscape faces mounting challenges from state-sponsored threats, with Iran’s influence and activities posing a growing concern for national security agencies. The need for vigilance, intelligence gathering, and proactive measures against such threats remains paramount in safeguarding the country’s interests and citizens.
