The Implications of North African Terrorism for the UK Counter-Terrorism Effort

While the recent terrorist attack in Algeria shone the spotlight on threats from North Africa, this is not a new phenomenon. Terrorist threats to UK citizens at home and abroad will continue to arise from multiple sources of insecurity.

The attack on the Tigantourine gas facility near In Amenas in Algeria highlights the shifting nature of the terrorist threat to the national security of the UK and its interests abroad. It is a sign that the threat, while still very strong in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, is growing in North Africa. However, this does not necessarily mean that North Africa will be where the most significant threat can be found in future, or where extra resources should be allocated now