Gavin Williamson declared that British jihadists in Syria and Iraq were jeopardizing the United Kingdom’s national security, and made it clear that there was no way the terrorists could return home: they would be “hunted down” and destroyed.
“A dead terrorist can’t cause any harm to Britain. I don’t believe that any terrorist, whether they come from this country or any other, should ever be allowed back into this country,” he told the Daily Mail.
According to the Telegraph, up to 300 jihadists left Britain to play crucial roles in their fight against the “infidels”, and were mainly placed in charge of group’s propaganda. In addition, about 1,000 Britons have travelled to the war zones to join ISIS and other terrorist groups. Half of those have reportedly returned to the UK, and an estimated 100 are thought to have been killed.
READ MORE: UK Government Lawyer Tells US Britain Will Bring Daesh Terrorists to Justice
British citizens are largely supportive of Williamson’s resolve; as evidenced on Twitter:
Gavin Williamson is going to be prime minister by the end of this year pic.twitter.com/2gBamKdXeb
— James Gilmour (@__Gilmour__) 7 декабря 2017 г.
At Last. Government Acts To Protect Brits And Britain.
— The English Brexiteer (@TookEnglandBack) 7 декабря 2017 г.
New Defence Secretary @GavinWilliamson Says
Brits who fought for ISIS should be ‘eliminated’ https://t.co/PoLoq6Ylds
Reassures me that Gavin Williamson is right for the job.
— Giles Rowing (@GilesRowing) 7 декабря 2017 г.
British IS fighters 'should not be allowed back into the UK' — https://t.co/PyeCnLEry3
"Dead Terrorists can't harm us"
— LaraLandyLover (@LaraLandyLover) 6 декабря 2017 г.
Good to hear common sense being stated by new Defence Secretary @GavinWilliamson https://t.co/z3wW9YS2o7
Earlier this year Max Hill QC, Britain’s terror watchdog, said that if teen jihadis returned home after their fight for Daesh, they should be “given space” by the security services to return to a normal life instead of being prosecuted. Hill’s statement sparked a wave of indignation within society.