But the British were 'fighting them over there'

I'm not amazed that the terror threat to Britain has gone up, but the numbers being bandied about are noticeable.

The terrorist threat facing Britain from home-grown al-Qaeda agents is higher than at any time since the September 11 attacks in 2001, secret intelligence documents reveal.....

The number of British-based Islamic terrorists plotting suicide attacks against "soft" targets in this country is far greater than the Security Services had previously believed, the government paperwork discloses. It is thought the plotters could number more than 2,000.

Of course, it should be remembered that the Blair government is trying to justify a troop increase in Afghanistan which "is expected to supersede Iraq as the location for terrorists planning Jihad against the West."

So, this might be a government leak for purpose.