"A new special forces regiment is being created to infiltrate Islamic
terrorist groups such as al-Qa'eda, The Telegraph can reveal.
The Reconnaissance and Surveillance Regiment will work closely with the
Special Air Service and the Special Boat Service. Its mission will be to
penetrate groups, either directly or by "turning" terrorists into double
agents.
It will be given the authority to operate around the world, working closely
with friendly intelligence agencies such as the CIA and Mossad.
Security chiefs hope that the regiment, comprising up to 600 troops, will
run a network of agents providing the West with accurate intelligence on
potential terrorist operations, allowing attacks to be foiled. It will at
first be formed from members of a highly secret surveillance agency - the
Joint Communications Unit Northern Ireland - which has worked in Ulster for
more than 20 years. The unit, which worked with the SAS, MI5 and the Special
Branch, perfected the art of covert surveillance in urban and rural areas
and created a network of double agents who supplied the British security
forces with intelligence on terrorist attacks.
Its success stemmed from its ability to plant listening devices and cameras
in the homes and cars of terrorists, to bug phones and to monitor suspects
at close quarters.
Such was the secrecy surrounding the unit that few of its operations were
made public. Members of the unit are, however, some of the most highly
decorated men and women in the Services.
One of its successes was providing the information for the SAS operation in
1988 which led to the shooting dead of three IRA terrorists who were
planning to attack British forces in Gibraltar. The unit also took part in
an operation that thwarted an IRA plot to attack a police station at
Loughgall, County Tyrone, in 1987. Eight IRA members were killed by the SAS
in a carefully planned ambush.
Volunteers for the regiment, both male and female, will be taken from all
three branches of the Armed Forces. Officers are keen to recruit those of
Middle Eastern or Mediterranean appearance, as well as Muslims and members
of ethnic minorities.
Recruitment has begun and volunteers must pass an intensive six-month
training course, learning covert surveillance, communications, driving
skills and first aid as well as close-quarter battle skills, using a variety
of weapons. Priority will be given to those able to infiltrate or blend in
with Islamic terror groups, rather than, as with the SAS, their fitness or
fighting capabilities.
One officer said: "The SAS's role is essentially to kill people. This new
regiment's role is to provide the intelligence for the SAS to do that."
Those who pass - a 90 per cent failure rate is expected - will be sent on an
Arabic course at the Armed Forces language school at Beaconsfield,
Buckinghamshire.
The unit will be commanded by a lieutenant colonel with a special forces
background, although not necessarily a member of the SAS, and will be based
in South Wales. He will report to the Director of Special Forces.
A senior officer associated with the formation of the new regiment said:
"This unit will be used primarily for intelligence gathering. The work will
be dangerous, as it was in Northern Ireland, and operators will be taught
how to protect themselves. The threat from Irish terror groups is far less
now and although we will keep a presence in Ulster, it is time to use this
force on a worldwide basis."
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004."
