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UK 'number one al-Qaeda target' UK 'number one al-Qaeda target'
(10 minutes later)
Al-Qaeda have become more organised and have made Britain their top target, counter-terrorism officials have told the BBC. Al-Qaeda has become more organised and sophisticated and has made Britain its top target, counter-terrorism officials have told the BBC.
Security sources say the situation has never been so grim, said BBC home affairs correspondent Margaret Gilmore.Security sources say the situation has never been so grim, said BBC home affairs correspondent Margaret Gilmore.
They believe the network is now operating a more sophisticated cell structure in the UK, like the IRA did. They believe the network is now operating a cell structure in the UK - like the IRA did - and sees the 7 July bomb attacks "as just the beginning".
Each cell has a leader, a quartermaster who deals with weapons and bombs, and a number of volunteers. Each cell has a leader, a quartermaster dealing with weapons, and volunteers.
University worry
According to our correspondent, each cell works on separate, different plots, with masterminds controlling several different cells.According to our correspondent, each cell works on separate, different plots, with masterminds controlling several different cells.
Training is taking place in the UK and Pakistan.Training is taking place in the UK and Pakistan.
The Guardian newspaper reports sources as saying that Britain is considered an easier target because of its traditional links with Pakistan, which is visited by tens of thousands of UK citizens each year. It was thought that five years ago al-Qaeda was a number of "loosely-connected organisations" with common aims, but it is now more organised, she said.
Intelligence agencies have reportedly found it difficult to penetrate training camps in Pakistan. Security officials are concerned the group is targeting universities and the community, and are "less worried" about mosques, she added.
"They viewed 7/7 as just the beginning," one senior source is quoted in the Guardian as saying.
"Al-Qaeda sees the UK as a massive opportunity to cause loss of life and embarrassment to the authorities."