| answer text |
<p>Al Qaeda in Yemen or Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been operating
in Yemen since 2009 and has murdered hundreds of Yemenis each year, including civilians
and members of the police and security forces. AQAP also continues to pose a serious
and direct threat to the UK and its interests, and remains intent on, and capable
of, conducting external attacks. We currently assess that the gravest threat to the
UK from AQAP comes from its ongoing ambition to strike international airliners and
cause mass civilian casualties. We also have concerns that AQAP could cooperate and
share its technical capability with other Al Qaeda (AQ)-aligned groups. Through their
extremist propaganda (e.g. Inspire magazine) AQ and its affiliates also wish to radicalise
Muslims and incite extremist violence.</p><p>Continued instability in Yemen, longer-term,
increases the risk of opportunistic AQAP attacks and may allow AQAP to exploit the
power vacuum to project violence beyond Yemen’s borders. However, we assess that AQAP’s
overall strategic aim remains to establish an AQ-ruled Emirate in Yemen.</p>
|
|
