ISIS planning mass terror attack on Britain as threat 'reaches highest level in decades' - warns MI5 boss

Islamic State is planning a mass attack in the UK as the terror threat to the country reaches its highest level in decades - the head of MI5 has warned.

Andrew Parker, director general of the Security Service, says the current risk of a terror attack in Britain is now at its 'highest level' in his 32-year career.


He warned there have already been six terror attacks thwarted this year as the threat from homegrown jihadis 'shows no sign of abating'.

More than 750 British extremists are said to have travelled to Syria this year.

Mr Parker said: "We are seeing plots against the UK directed by terrorists in Syria; enabled through contacts with terrorists in Syria; and inspired online by Isil's sophisticated exploitation of technology.

"It uses the full range of modern communications tools to spread its message of hate, and to inspire extremists, sometimes as young as their teens, to conduct attacks in whatever way they can."