06/11/2007
Ulster Spy Base Will Have Central UK Role
It’s changing time for Northern Ireland as the local terror threat diminishes and instead, there's news that the Province is set to play a significant role in the battle against al Quaida and international terrorism.
The new head of MI5, Security Service Director General Jonathan Evans made his comments in a rare public speech to the society of editors at a function in Manchester yesterday.
He revealed that the new MI5 headquarters at Palace Barracks, near Holywood, would soon be formally opened and that the Security Service would be locating about a quarter of its staff outside London by 2011, with many moving to Northern Ireland.
Mr Evans said the opening of the new facility would mean a major role for Northern Ireland in the future.
"This new building is a regional headquarters concerned with the broad spectrum of MI5's work.
"So although we will continue to investigate national security threats to Northern Ireland from there, the capabilities will also provide us with greater capacity in our overall work across the UK.
"Our Northern Ireland headquarters is now an important part of my service's UK counter-terrorism network."
He said MI5, which is to take over the counter-terrorist role of the PSNI, has identified thousands of individuals who are a threat to national security – with al Quaida one of the most potent.
Mr Evans also added that the more "traditional" spy threat had not diminished.
He said: "This year, yet again, there have been high levels of covert activity by foreign intelligence organisations in our country.
"Since the end of the Cold War we have seen no decrease in the numbers of undeclared Russian intelligence officers in the UK.
"So despite the Cold War ending nearly two decades ago, my service is still expending resources to defend the UK against unreconstructed attempts by Russia, China and others to spy on us,” he said.
See: MI5 Boss Explains Threat
(BMcC)
The new head of MI5, Security Service Director General Jonathan Evans made his comments in a rare public speech to the society of editors at a function in Manchester yesterday.
He revealed that the new MI5 headquarters at Palace Barracks, near Holywood, would soon be formally opened and that the Security Service would be locating about a quarter of its staff outside London by 2011, with many moving to Northern Ireland.
Mr Evans said the opening of the new facility would mean a major role for Northern Ireland in the future.
"This new building is a regional headquarters concerned with the broad spectrum of MI5's work.
"So although we will continue to investigate national security threats to Northern Ireland from there, the capabilities will also provide us with greater capacity in our overall work across the UK.
"Our Northern Ireland headquarters is now an important part of my service's UK counter-terrorism network."
He said MI5, which is to take over the counter-terrorist role of the PSNI, has identified thousands of individuals who are a threat to national security – with al Quaida one of the most potent.
Mr Evans also added that the more "traditional" spy threat had not diminished.
He said: "This year, yet again, there have been high levels of covert activity by foreign intelligence organisations in our country.
"Since the end of the Cold War we have seen no decrease in the numbers of undeclared Russian intelligence officers in the UK.
"So despite the Cold War ending nearly two decades ago, my service is still expending resources to defend the UK against unreconstructed attempts by Russia, China and others to spy on us,” he said.
See: MI5 Boss Explains Threat
(BMcC)
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