This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21928555
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| MI5 chief Sir Jonathan Evans to step down next month | MI5 chief Sir Jonathan Evans to step down next month |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The head of MI5, Sir Jonathan Evans, is to step down from the post next month, Home Secretary Theresa May has said. | |
| In the Commons, Mrs May paid tribute to Sir Jonathan's 33 years with the security service. | In the Commons, Mrs May paid tribute to Sir Jonathan's 33 years with the security service. |
| He succeeded Lady Manningham-Buller to become director general of MI5 in April 2007, and will leave at the end of his contract. | He succeeded Lady Manningham-Buller to become director general of MI5 in April 2007, and will leave at the end of his contract. |
| "I thank him for his invaluable contribution to public safety and national security," Mrs May said. | "I thank him for his invaluable contribution to public safety and national security," Mrs May said. |
| Speaking at Home Office questions, Mrs May said: "During this time his contributions have varied from investigating counter espionage, developing and implementing key policies on security and most-recently countering the threat of international terrorism. | Speaking at Home Office questions, Mrs May said: "During this time his contributions have varied from investigating counter espionage, developing and implementing key policies on security and most-recently countering the threat of international terrorism. |
| "He has experienced the service evolving over the years and as director general has led the service through particularly challenging times of change and unrest, including the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings. | "He has experienced the service evolving over the years and as director general has led the service through particularly challenging times of change and unrest, including the aftermath of the 7/7 bombings. |
| "His tireless work helped ensure the delivery of a safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Games last year." | "His tireless work helped ensure the delivery of a safe and successful Olympic and Paralympic Games last year." |
| Terror threat outlined | |
| Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "We also give thanks for the work Sir Jonathan Evans has done over many years for the security of this country." | |
| At MI5, Sir Jonathan initially focused on Irish-related terrorism in the 1980s and 1990s, before moving on to international counter-terrorism investigations in 1999. | |
| He was appointed director of international counter-terrorism just 10 days before the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001. | |
| Last year, in a rare public speech just a month before the Olympic Games began in London, he said Britain had experienced a "credible terrorist attack plot about once a year since 9/11". | |
| He warned: "In back rooms and in cars and on the streets of this country, there is no shortage of individuals talking about wanting to mount terrorist attacks here." |