UK, Sunday 09 November 2008: Al-Qaida-linked extremists are planning attacks intended to cause mass casualties in the UK, a top British intelligence report has warned.

The report, which has been prepared by the intelligence branch of the British Ministry of Defence, MI5 and Special Branch, warned that secret cells of Al-Qaida extremists based in London, Birmingham and Luton are planning attacks in the UK.

“For the foreseeable future the UK will continue to be a high-priority target for international terrorists aligned with Al-Qaida. It will face a threat from British nationals, including Muslim converts, and UK-based foreign terrorists, as well as terrorists planning attacks from abroad,” the top intelligence report said.

According to the British daily, the report headlined ‘International Terrorism’ states that “some thousands” of extremists, many believed to have been trained in overseas terrorist camps, are active in the UK.