Blunkett warns of increased terror risk

Osama Bin Laden has claimed he has nuclear weapons

Britain's staunch support for the US in the wake of the 11 September attacks means there is an increased risk of terrorism in the UK, Home Secretary David Blunkett has warned.

Appearing before the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Mr Blunkett was asked if he thought the current danger of attacks was greater than that previously posed by the IRA.

It is very clear and understood that the IRA were not using chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack

David Blunkett

He said: "Yes, because it is very clear and understood that the IRA were not using chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack.

"They never threatened to do so and did not possess such weapons.

"Never did they indicate that they were engaged in an international terrorist action."

Anti-terror measures

That followed an admission earlier on Wednesday by a Home Office junior minister, Beverly Hughes, that government plans to detain terror suspects without trial could up the risk to the UK.

Mr Blunkett had to obtain an opt-out from the European Convention on Human Rights in order to include the new power in the emergency anti-terrorism bill being rushed through Parliament in response to the US atrocities.

The measure will allow foreign nationals to be detained where deportation is not feasible.

Mr Blunkett told the Human Rights Committee that he was not willing to deport suspects to countries where they might face torture or death.

"One of the accusations that has been made against the UK is that ... people have been hosted here while planning such attacks," Mr Blunkett said.

"We are adjudged internationally to be at more risk than ... other smaller European countries.

"We have a larger community of those who the Germans and French allege are organising for international terror."