MI5 G Branch
Revision as of 01:49, 11 November 2009 by Tom Griffin (talk | contribs) (→Afghanistan and Pakistan)
G Branch is the division of MI5 dealing with international counter-terrorism. Domestic and Irish terrorism is the responsibility of T Branch.[1]
Contents
History
G Branch was the name of the investigations branch in Vernon Kell's original organisation of MI6 in 1916.[2]
The modern G Branch was created in 1988, when the former FX branch was renamed.[3]
In 1990 G Branch's responsibility for Irish terrorism was hived off to the new T Branch.[4]
In 1995, G Branch appointed a desk officer to study the problem of radicalization in the British Muslim community.[5]
Afghanistan and Pakistan
In January 2002, the Sunday Times reported that G Branch officers had been sent to Pakistan and Afghanistan to question four Britons being held in detention:
- The detainees include three men from the West Midlands, captured by the Northern Alliance, and James McLintock, a Scotsman who converted to Islam. All are being held on suspicion of having links with Taliban or Al-Qaeda fighters.
- The squad of about five officers from MI5's G branch, specialising in counterterrorism, wants to question the men to find out whether they know of Al-Qaeda sympathisers who may have escaped to Britain.[6]
Directors
- Stella Rimington 1988-1990[7]
- Jonathan Evans 2001-2005[8]
Organisation
G2
- G2P: Counter-proliferation
G3
- Annie Machon worked in G3 from August 1995 to October 1996.
- G3A: C-ordination of threat assessments.
- G3C: Countering threats from South Asia, e.g. Sikh militants.
- G3W: International terrorist threats not covered by other sections.
G5
- G5 Stephen Lander, C.1990.[9] Lander was subsequently head of T5, so the whole section may have moved to the new T Branch.
G6
- G6: G Branch agent runners.
G9
- G9 Jonathan Evans, c.appointed autumn 1998.[10]
- G9A: Libya, Iraq, Palestinian and Kurdish groups
- G9B: Iranian state and Iranian dissident groups.
- G9C: Islamic extremists.[11]
Notes
- ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.864.
- ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.84.
- ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.745.
- ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.772.
- ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.805.
- ↑ Nicholas Rufford, MI5 MOVES TO HEAD OFF TERROR DRIVE BY AL-QAEDA BRITONS;BRITISH FIGHTERS;WAR ON TERROR, Sunday Times, 6 January 2002.
- ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.772.
- ↑ MI5 deputy due to start top post, BBC News, 20 April 2007.
- ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.748.
- ↑ Christopher Andrew, Defence of the Realm, The Authorized History of MI5, Allen Lane, 2009, p.806.
- ↑ Mark Hollingsworth and Nick Fielding, Defending the Realm: Inside MI5 and The War on Terrorism, André Deutsch, 2003, pp.320-321.
