What's New
The Security Service does not have a Press Office and does not comment on intelligence matters. The Home Office issues statements relating to our work from time to time and we link to these on this page, along with any other relevant official announcements. This page also highlights new features added to our website. Earlier news items may be accessed via the archive links on the right.
FIVE SENTENCED FOR POSSESSION OF EXTREMIST MATERIAL (26.07.07)
Five students were today sentenced to a total of 13 years' detention and imprisonment after being convicted at the Old Bailey on charges of possessing material for terrorist purposes. They had amassed a considerable quantity of extremist propaganda and terrorist training manuals, such as the "Al Qaida Training Manual" and the "Military Guide to Terrorism in the 21st Century". They intended to undertake terrorist training in camps in Pakistan or Afghanistan before joining extremist groups to carry out terrorist attacks. For more information on this case, please click on the headline of this item.
BOMB PLOTTERS JAILED (12.07.07)
Four men who were convicted for their parts in the 21 July 2005 bomb plot were yesterday sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 40 years. The Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, has highlighted the work which led to the successful prosecution of the plotters. She said: "This is the sixth terrorism trial to end this year, in which a total of 25 individuals have been convicted. The number of convictions to date is thanks to the hard work, dedication and commitment of the men and women in the police, Security Service and prosecuting authorities in the face of a very real and serious threat." For more information on this case, please click on the headline of this item.
'SLEEPER' TERRORIST JAILED FOR NINE YEARS (06.07.07)
Omar Altimimi, a resident of Bolton, was today (6 July) convicted of six offences under the Terrorism Act 2000 plus two additional criminal offences. He was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment. An investigation by Greater Manchester Police found that he had been amassing a huge library of terrorist material, including bomb-making instructions and videos of executions, downloaded from secret Al Qaida websites on the Internet. Commenting on the case, Detective Chief Superintendent Tony Porter said: "He appears to have been a 'sleeper' remaining in the shadows and preparing for action. We will never know exactly what Altimimi was preparing to do but it was clear he had support and links with terrorists across the world." For more information, including video footage, please click on this item's headline.
INTERNET TERRORISTS JAILED FOR 24 YEARS (05.07.07)
Three men were today (5 July) sentenced to a total of 24 years in jail after they admitted charges of inciting terrorist murder using the Internet. Using stolen credit cards and false identities, they published websites promoting extremist propaganda and Al Qaida material. Their aim was to incite and recruit suicide bombers in Iraq and elsewhere to kill those they regarded as "infidels". For further information, please click on the headline of this item.
THREAT LEVEL LOWERED TO 'SEVERE' (04.07.07)
The Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre (JTAC) has lowered the UK threat level from CRITICAL to SEVERE. This means that future terrorist attacks are still highly likely, but no longer thought to be imminent. The decision has been made by JTAC based on a review of the latest intelligence. For more details, please click on the headline of this item.
