MI5 officer reveals UK is one of the safest countries in the world despite wave of terror attacks
- ‘David’ gave first ‘on-the-record’ interview ever given by a serving MI5 officer
- Urged public not to worry constantly about overhanging threat of terrorism
- Comes after 36 people died in atrocities in Westminster and Manchester in 2017
An MI5 officer has insisted Britain is one of the ‘safest countries in the world’ – despite a spate of terrorist attacks in recent years.
In the first ‘on-the-record’ interview ever given by a serving MI5 officer, he urged the public not to worry constantly about the overhanging threat of terrorism and to get on with their daily lives.
His remarks come just two years after the UK suffered more loss of life in terror attacks than any other country in the EU.
Some 36 victims perished in atrocities in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge and the Finsbury Park mosque.
And only last month the Home Secretary warned that the ‘tempo’ of terrorism was increasing, with a further 19 attacks foiled by security services in the last two years.
An MI5 officer has insisted Britain is one of the ‘safest countries in the world’ – despite a spate of terrorist attacks in recent years. Pictured: the eight victims of the London Bridge terror attack. Top left to right: Christine Archibald, James McMullan, Alexandre Pigeard, Sebastien Belanger. Bottom row left to right: Kirsty Boden, Sara Zelenak, Xavier Thomas and Ignacio Echeverria
Nonetheless the MI5 officer, referred to only as David to protect his real identity, said: ‘The UK is one of the safest countries in the world.’
In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s ‘Analysis’ programme, he said everyone should be ‘focusing on your daily life and your profession and allow MI5 and the police to worry about the threat from terrorism’.
Acknowledging the loss of life to terrorism on UK soil, he said his remarks would be ‘no consolation to people who have tragically suffered at the hands of terrorists or have or had family members suffered at the hands of the terrorists.’
He also advised members of the public that was ‘important’ not to let the possibility of an attack interfere with their ‘daily business’, and they shouldn’t be ‘constantly worrying about the threat from terrorism.’
Speaking about the pressures of the role, he said there were ‘many times’ when he feared he had made the wrong decision at the end of the working day.
‘It’s important that we feel accountable for our decisions. We have human beings in MI5 investigating other humans who are erratic and unpredictable and don’t necessarily follow a set course.’
The interview was sanctioned by MI5 director general Sir Andrew Parker.
In the first ‘on-the-record’ interview ever given by a serving MI5 officer, he urged the public not to worry constantly about the overhanging threat of terrorism and to get on with their daily lives. Pictured: police outside the Manchester arena