PM contemplates ban on jihadists returning to Britain
Jihadists fighting in Iraq and Syria, who were born in Britain could be temporarily barred from returning home under plans being considered by the government, according to the BBC.
Those suspected of fighting on behalf of terrorist organisations will be allowed to retain their citizenship but could not comeback to the UK for an as yet unspecified period under the proposals. On Monday, David Cameron will present the plans as part of a series of measures to counter the threat posed by the Islamic State.
Over 500 people are thought to have travelled from the UK to the fight in Syria but the government has not revealed the true extent of the problem.
Furthermore, Cameron is expected to announce measures to ease the process by which passports can be seized from those suspected to be terrorists travelling overseas.
A government source told BBC News: "The government is considering a range of measures to keep the country safe in the face of an increased threat level from Islamist extremism.
"The areas include making it harder for potential foreign fighters to travel abroad by making it easier to remove their passports through additional temporary seizure powers at the border.
"We are also looking at stopping British citizens from re-entering the country if they are suspected of terrorist activity abroad."
Previously the government only had the power to prevent the return of foreign nationals, dual nationals or naturalised citizens. It is possible the Prime Minister will also consider measures to strengthen terrorism prevention and investigation measures, which replaced control orders introduced by the last Labour government.
However, this may face opposition from the Liberal Democrats on civil liberties grounds.
On Friday, Home secretary Theresa May said the threat of international terror to the UK is “severe”, meaning a new terror attack in the country is “highly likely”.