Jihadis who encourage Brits to mount terror attacks via social media ‘to be taken out by RAF’
Jeremy Wright will push for Britain's right to use air strikes in self defence and urge the UK to keep up with looser borders
OVERSEAS extremists who incite Brits via social media will be targeted by RAF drones, the Attorney General will warn today.
Top law officer Jeremy Wright will redefine the right to take out such threats under established rules of self-defence.
His dramatic intervention to keep pace with technology is a significant escalation in the battle to combat terror attacks aimed at Britain.
Mr Wright will say the internet has made it far easier for terrorists to coordinate attacks as he sets out the legal basis for British military strikes against overseas targets.
He will use a landmark speech to International Institute for Strategic Studies to ram home our right to deploy lethal force in self-defence, arguing that the law must keep up with “changing times”and looser borders.
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Mr Wright will warn that the frontline has been “irretrievably altered” through Facebook and the Dark Web, meaning attacks can be easily coordinated from afar.
While his words will be welcomed by spy chiefs, the intervention will infuriate civil liberties campaigners.
Scrutiny of the legal basis for such foreign operations intensified in September 2015 when then PM David Cameron revealed that an RAF drone had killed two British jihadists in Syria the month before.
Reyaad Khan, 21, from Cardiff, was the target of the attack launched near the Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa, while a second UK national, Ruhul Amin, also died.
Last year MPs called for Ministers to urgently clarify the legal basis for launching drone strikes against IS targets.
In his speech tonight Mr Wright will set out the legal framework that would be discussed before any action is taken in self-defence against an imminent attack.
A state may use force in self-defence not only in response to armed attacks but also in certain circumstances, to prevent attacks before they occur.
Mr Wright will say: “The UK is a world leader in promoting, defending and shaping international law — and for the first time we are setting out how we determine whether an attack is imminent.
“We are a long way from being able to see troops massing on the horizon. The frontline has irretrievably altered.
“Technology has made it easier for terrorists to carry out attacks.
“The law has to keep up with the changing times.
He will add: “The Government has a primary duty to protect the lives of its citizens. But it can only use lethal force where there is a clear legal basis for doing so.”
US officials have frozen assets of Londoner Alexanda Kotey, 33. They formally named him as a member of the British IS terror cell nicknamed The Beatles, led by Jihadi John. The gang beheaded around two dozen hostages including American journalists.