‘London is next’: ISIS threaten attacks on major cities, churches on full alert


Police last night warned Britain’s Christians to be on alert amid fears they could be targeted by ISIS jihadists.

(Article by Ian Drury)

Security was increased at the country’s 47,000 churches after an 84-year-old priest was beheaded by Muslim fanatics in France.

The killing in Normandy was the first known attack claimed by ISIS inside a church in the West after compiling a hitlist of places of Christian worship.

It comes as ISIS warned that London and Washington DC are next on the list of target cities, with images threatening major world capitals being posted online. 

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Adel Kermiche (pictured right and left, in 2011), 19, has been named as one of the two ISIS knifemen who stormed into a church in Normandy and cut the throat of an 84-year-old Catholic priest Jacques Hamel before being shot dead by police

This morning, French religious leaders joined forces to call for reinforced security after the attack.

Adel Kermiche, one of the two French teenagers killed by police after carrying out the morning slaughter – filmed on a mobile phone – told a friend two months ago: ‘I’m going to do a church.’

Last night counter-terror police in Britain disclosed they had ‘circulated specific advice’ to places of worship.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said: ‘Following recent events in France, we are reiterating our protective security advice to Christian places of worship and have circulated specific advice today. We are also taking this opportunity to remind them to review their security arrangements as a precaution.

‘This is part of our ongoing work with faith organisations, as well as other sectors, to help ensure the safety and security of their staff, visitors and members.’ He said: ‘There is no specific intelligence relating to attacks against the Christian community in the UK.

‘However, as we have seen, Daesh and other terrorist groups have targeted Christian as well as Jewish and other faith groups in the West and beyond. While the threat from terrorism remains unchanged at severe we urge the public to be vigilant. Be alert and not alarmed and report any suspicious activity via the anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789321. In an emergency always dial 999.’

There are around 5.4million Church members in the UK. In February last year, when a total of 17 people died in attacks by Islamist gunmen in Paris, including four men at a kosher supermarket, anti-terror police warned of ‘heightened concern’ of the risks to the Jewish community. It prompted an increase in patrols at schools and synagogues and in areas with large populations of the UK’s 263,000 Jews.

Read more at: dailymail.co.uk

 



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