26/11 Mumbai-style Al-Qaeda threat to Britain 'still active'

London, Sep 30(ANI): The threat of 26/11 Mumbai-style Al-Qaeda attacks across Britain, France and Germany 'is still active', Brit security officials have warned.

The warning came after intelligence agencies, including MI6 and GCHQ, uncovered a plan for co-ordinated terrorist attacks in London, Paris and Berlin, which was plotted in the lawless tribal areas of Waziristan in Pakistan.

According to the Scotsman, the plot follows a different strategy from the suicide bombings associated with Al-Qaeda, as it involves small teams of militants seizing and killing hostages similar to the methods used in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which claimed the lives of 173 people.

It is thought that other cities in Britain, France and Germany could also be at risk, although it has not been disclosed when and where the terrorists were planning to strike.

British terrorism experts said that the plan was still in its early stages, but consider it serious enough for security threat of 'severe' level.

It is the second highest state of alert, which suggests an attack is highly likely.

"These sort of attacks would be a huge problem for any place," the newspaper quoted Professor Paul Wilkinson of the Centre for Terrorism and Political Violence, based at St Andrews University, as saying.

"They are highly credible and involve a range of different types of targets and they would be a particular worry for security agencies in any country. If there are people saying that this wouldn't happen here, they are wrong and it is a worrying development. Clearly the security agencies have done well to foil this," he added.

British counter-terrorism officials have been warning about the threat of a Mumbai-style attack on major cities for two years. (ANI)