London: A British parliamentary committee will examine whether the country`s intelligence service failed in assessing the threat posed by two apparent Islamists who butchered a soldier on a London street last week.
The parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) will examine whether more could have been done to prevent the killing of Drummer Lee Rigby, as the two suspects, Michael Olumide Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, were reportedly on the domestic intelligence service MI5`s monitoring radar.
However, the committee`s chairman has stressed that the move to examine the service`s operation prior to the attack in Woolwich, a neighbourhood in south-east London, does not imply that MI5 is `in the dock".
"I think that would be very unfair," Sir Malcolm Rifkind told BBC Radio 4 when asked if the probe is just.
"Do remember one fundamental point: the fact we have not had anyone killed until these tragic events in Woolwich since the 7/7 bombings (in London) in 2005 is not because there hasn`t been terrorist plots. Every year since 2005 there has been at least one, sometimes two or even more, terrorist plots which were disrupted and prevented from killing British citizens, partly because of the work of MI5 in some cases very largely because of the work of MI5 and other intelligence agencies," he added.
Sir Malcolm said that after the ISC deliberations, Prime Minister David Cameron and Parliament would receive a report. He said elements of the Parliament report may be redacted for public viewing on the grounds of national security.
He added that the effect of Government spending cuts on the security services will be analysed during the ISC`s review and any further reduction in resources would be a cause for concern.
Meanwhile, some media reports here have indicated that Britain`s security services may have sought to recruit Adebolajo while he was being held by the Kenyan authorities on suspicion of trying to join al Qaeda linked Somali terrorist group al-Shabaab.
Ten people have been arrested over Rigby`s murder. The two prime suspects, both Muslim converts from Nigerian Christian families, remain in separate hospitals under armed guard after they were shot by police at the murder scene.
PTI
