Cabinet minister Justine Greening today warned that the “full weight of the law” will be used against British jihadis returning from Syria.
She said government was working to prevent people turning to extremism but stated that those who do should be clear “action would be taken”.
In the Commons yesterday Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said old treason laws could be used to prosecute returning fighters.
But this morning the Home Office, which would lead in any such cases, was unwilling to discuss the issue.
A Foreign Office spokesman said of Mr Hammond’s comments today: “[He] was asked about the legal instruments available to take action against Britons who join ISIL (Islamic State), including the Treason Act. He confirmed that there were a range of potentially relevant laws.”
It came as the UK’s top terror officer said agencies were “keen to help” families concerned about children being radicalised.
There have been 218 terror arrests in the UK this year and 16 people charged with alleged extremist activity.
International Development Secretary Ms Greening said: “The key is to make sure they don’t go in the first place.”
She urged UK religious leaders to highlight how the Islamic State’s actions are “not what Islam is actually preaching”. She went on: “I think we have to be frank with people that if they are thinking of going out there and then they wanted to come back to the UK, we will use all the measures available to us in order to put the full weight of the law and tackle their behaviour.”
Official statistics suggest 500 Brits have travelled abroad for jihad, with up to 30 killed in Syria.
The UK’s most senior counter terrorism officer, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley warned that police forces were being stretched by the resurgent terror threat.
He said officers were facing a “step change” and had disrupted several plots each year. He urged parents to come to Government agencies for help if they believed their children were at risk, saying: “When they come forward earlier we’re able to intervene in a way where we can help them rescue a situation that’s escalating.”
A new Islamic State video featured a man with a British accent claiming he would decapitate western soldiers. The militant, calling himself Abu Abdullah al-Britani, claimed there were many westerners fighting with the group.
