MI5 chief: Terror plots against UK have fallen

The threat of a homegrown terror attack in Britain has declined over the last 18 months, according to newspaper reports published Wednesday quoting the director of the country's domestic intelligence agency. But senior al-Qaida leaders still hope to recruit Britons to carry out bombings in the country, MI5 director-general Jonathan Evans was quoted as saying by six British newspapers. A British security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity since the person was not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed the reports of Evans' comments were accurate. MI5 said it was the first-ever media interview by a serving director in the agency's 100-year history. Evans gave the interview Tuesday.