Rapid Reaction: The Shattered Myths of Al-Qaeda
by Alexis Y. Debat from the National Interest Online
Even though much remains to be learned from the past few days’ investigation, initial reports from UK security sources indicate that this terrorist cell was not built in Britain but that at least some of the 8 men arrested so far (including Dr. Muhammad Asha from Jordan) had been sent to the UK separately and linked up there. This indicates that the plot was likely coordinated from somewhere outside of London. This is not to say, of course, that these “instant generation” terrorist cells do not exist, and/or that this phenomenon will not grow in the future–it will, and not just to serve Violent Neo-Salafism–but simply that this is still a fairly rare occurrence.