MI5 head: We're tracking 30 potential terror plots

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
British authorities are tracking almost 30 terrorist plots involving 1,600 individuals, the head of Britain's MI5 spy agency has said. Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller said many of the suspects were homegrown British terrorists plotting to kill with bombs and suicide attacks. In a speech released by the agency Friday, Manningham-Buller said MI5 had foiled five major plots since the July 2005 transit bomb attacks in London. Speaking to a small audience of academics in London on Thursday, Manningham-Buller said officials were "aware of numerous plots to kill people and to damage our economy." "What do I mean by numerous? Five? Ten?" she said. "No, nearer 30 that we currently know of." She added that, "Today we see the use of homemade improvised explosive devices, but I suggest tomorrow's threat will include the use of chemicals, bacteriological agents, radioactive materials and even nuclear technology."