David Cameron walking to Parliament after leaving Number 10 Downing Street in London yesterday. Photo: ReutersDavid Cameron walking to Parliament after leaving Number 10 Downing Street in London yesterday. Photo: Reuters

British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday announced plans to strip suspected Islamist militants of their passports temporarily, to combat the threat posed by radicalised Britons returning from Syria and Iraq.

The proposals come days after Cameron raised Britain’s terrorism alert to its second-highest level, saying Islamic State (IS) in Syria and Iraq posed the country’s greatest-ever security risk.

An IS video released last month, purporting to show a man with a London accent beheading a US journalist, led to concern that Britons fighting in the region could return and launch attacks on British soil.

“We have all been shocked and sickened by the barbarism we have witnessed in Iraq this summer,” Cameron told Parliament.

“There are two key areas where we need to strengthen our powers to fill specific gaps in our armoury. These are around preventing suspects from travelling and dealing decisively with those already here who pose a risk.”

Cameron said he would bring in new “specific and targeted legislation” to give the police powers to temporarily seize a suspect’s passport at the border to give authorities time to investigate them. Currently only Britain’s interior minister has the power to withdraw a passport.

Officials estimate at least 500 Britons have travelled to Syria or Iraq

He also said the government would consult on a discretionary power to prevent Britons from returning home if they have pledged allegiance to extremist causes. This would extend existing powers which can only be applied to foreign nationals, naturalised citizens and those with dual nationalities.

Asked by an Opposition Labour lawmaker whether he was open to the idea of joining the US in direct military action, Cameron said he would not “rule anything out”.

“A British government should act in the national interest ... to help keep our people safe and we should consider everything in the light of that,” he said, adding that if it became necessary to act quickly he would do so without first seeking authorisation from Parliament.

Last week Obama administration officials said the US wanted to recruit partners for potential joint military action but Cameron’s spokesman said yesterday he was not aware any such proposals had been put to Britain.

The package of security measures announced by Cameron on yesterday has been subject to protracted negotiations in the two-party coalition government, with the junior partner Liberal Democrats wary of bringing in laws that could limit civil liberties.

Lawmakers immediately questioned the legality of some of the proposals.

Officials estimate at least 500 Britons have travelled to Syria or Iraq, where IS has seized large swathes of territory, and London’s police chief Bernard Hogan-Howe said last week it was believed some 250 had since returned.

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