WarSclerotic

British jihadist fighting in Syria last night vowed to unleash terrorist ­bloodshed in the UK unless the West stops its attacks on Islamic State targets. Amu Bakr’s chilling warning came as Met police chief Sir Bernard Hogan Howe revealed at least 250 Brits who went to fight in the region have already returned and could be plotting attacks on our streets.

The masked rebel appeared on a grainy video to declare his murderous intentions on our streets. He said: “If there’s no other chance than to come back then I’ll have to do that I’m ready to take that step to come back if your armies, if your countries don’t stop attacking us.” In the same footage another British jihadist calling himself Abu Anwar al-Britani boasted that he was prepared to take part in cowardly executions of innocent people like that of US journalist James Foley who was beheaded by IS last week or soldiers loyal to Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

With his face also disguised, he said of the murder: “My initial reaction personally was that this was a direct justified response to the crimes of the US against the Islamic State. “I would be more than honoured to partake in an execution like this. “I hope God gives me the chance to do such a thing as the brother did with James Foley.

“Whether it be on someone like James Foley, a soldier of Bashar or a soldier of America, my hands are ready to do this blessed act.” Mr Hogan-Howe warned those Brits returning from war-torn Iraq and Syria pose a serious risk to home security. The Met commissioner insisted his force was “keeping an eye on them”. But he added: “The thing we’re worried about is so many people from Britain have gone to Syria and ­potentially Iraq to get involved in terrorism .

“We think at least 500 to 600 went. Some have come back. They risk being militarised and they are in a network of terrorists. It’s a worry because we think two thirds to three quarters of them come from the London area, so that’s quite a large number.” Mr Hogan Howe also called for the return of the abolished control orders for suspects who cannot be charged or deported.

They were replaced by less restrictive Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures by the Coalition Government. The officer said: “They were stopped because the threat was reduced and quite properly they were seen as too intrusive. “But I think these things have got to be considered when the drum beat changes, and it’s clear it has.” Mr Hogan-Howe backed growing calls to strip citizenship from Brits who go to war zones to fight alongside Islamic extremists. And he called on David Cameron to plough more cash into the battle to prevent terrorism on our streets.