Any potential return of jihadists from Syria ‘of great concern’, says minister

Any potential return of British jihadists to the UK is “a matter of great concern”, a Home Office minister has said, amid worries about the fallout of the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria.

Dame Angela Eagle told Times Radio that intelligence services are “keeping a very, very close eye” on the situation on the ground, and the UK is in touch with allies.

The Daily Telegraph reported on Tuesday about concerns that jihadists from the UK being held in prisons in northern Syria could be freed if jails and camps are shut down following the fall of Bashar Assad.

Asked about the prospect of jihadists who are British citizens returning to the UK, Dame Angela told the radio station: “Rest assured that the intelligence services are keeping a very close eye on what’s going on and we’re in contact with all of our allies to see how this pans out.”

She added: “Clearly any potential return of jihadists is a matter of great concern, which is why we’ll be keeping a very, very close eye on how this situation develops in the coming days and weeks.”

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Dame Angela – who serves as the minister of state for border security and asylum – said that it is a concern that “we constantly act on”.

Asked about whether the prospect of British jihadis returning to the UK was worrying, she said: “Obviously our security services will have an eye on any such things and we communicate and co-operate with our neighbours.

“Our intelligence services know what’s going on with respect to all of that, so we’ll keep a very close eye on how that works out.”

Pushed further on the sense of concern, she added: “Of course it’s a concern and it’s a concern that we constantly act on.”

Number 10 has said that the Government is focused on “the risk posed in relation to terrorism” given the unfolding events in Syria.

Asked about how concerned officials are about the security risk as a result of what is happening in the country, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Obviously national security is clearly of absolute priority to the Government, and is obviously key to the meetings we’re having, conversations we’re having with regional allies.

“Daesh continue to represent one of the most significant global terrorist threats, including to the UK.”

He added: “It is an unfolding, fluid, fast moving situation. One of the things we are focused on is the risk posed in relation to terrorism.”

Cabinet minister Pat McFadden told broadcasters on Monday there are “no plans” for the Government to consider whether Shamima Begum, who has been living in a Syrian refugee camp, would be allowed to return to the UK after being stripped of her citizenship.

Meanwhile the UK suspended all asylum claims from Syria in response to the weekend’s events.

Millions of Syrians fled the country after the outbreak of civil war and thousands were granted asylum in the UK, but the Home Office said decisions on applications would now be paused while the department reviews the situation.

Some 5,548 Syrians applied for asylum in the UK in the year to September 2024 – the highest number for any 12-month period since records began in 2001.

Charity Asylum Aid said it was “extremely concerned” by the decision and described the move as “premature” because it could leave thousands of people in “limbo”.

The UN’s refugee agency, the UNHCR, called for Syrians fleeing the country to be given “protection and support”.

At a press briefing in Geneva, spokeswoman Shabia Mantoo said it was “critical that Syrians who are compelled to flee the country are given access to territory”, adding that deciding to suspend processing asylum applications was “acceptable” as long as people can still make a claim while stressing that no asylum seekers should be “forcibly returned” as this could flout international obligations.

Dame Angela said that the “fluid” nature of events means that officials need to “wait” before any decision would be made to resume considering applications.

When asked why cases had been suspended, she told Times Radio that “one of the main reasons why people were fleeing and claiming asylum was to get away from the Assad regime”.

She added: “Because things are so fluid, we need to wait a little bit before we try to recommence asylum decisions in a territory where things are changing so rapidly.”