The development comes as officials from Britain and the European Union begin the final scheduled round of negotiations on a post-Brexit agreement. Prime Minister Boris Johnson previously issued an ultimatum to Brussels saying London will walk away from the negotiating table if the sides don't strike a deal before 15 October.
The threat of terrorist attacks in Britain will increase if UK authorities fail to find a compromise with the European Union and leave the bloc with no deal, said Sir John Scarlett former head of MI6. “The simple answer is yes”, Sir Scarlett told The National when asked whether a no-deal Brexit will make the country more vulnerable to terror attacks.
At the moment, Britain and the EU have a data sharing agreement that allows London to use the bloc's databases on criminal records, including information on terrorists, but a no-deal Brexit would mean that the country's intelligence services and law enforcement won't be able to access it.
Sir Scarlett, who headed the nation's secret intelligence service MI6 from 2004 to 2009, said the lack of data sharing will not only put the United Kingdom at greater risk of terror attacks, but also “potentially weaken” Britain's ability to respond to the jihadist threat.
The official noted that last year there were “21-terrorist-related attacks” in Europe, including in London. The stabbing attack that occurred last November started at Fishmongers' Hall and then continued on London Bridge. Two…
