Michael Chertoff: The United States fears terrorist attacks by Muslims from Britain

Daily Mail:

George Bush's homeland security chief today warned the next September 11-style attack on America could be launched by Muslims from Britain who feel "secondclass citizens".

Michael Chertoff, who arrives in Britain tomorrow for talks with Home Secretary John Reid, said the US was determined to build extra defences against so-called "clean skin" terrorists from Europe.

"We need to build layers of protection. We don't want to rely upon the fact that a foreign government is going to know one of their citizens is suspicious and is going to be coming here," he said.

Mr Chertoff told The Daily Telegraph it was vital the US has additional information, including credit card details, to vet European passengers.

The 7 July bombs had shown Britain had a problem with its Muslim immigrant population that America did not share, he argued.

"Our Muslim population is better educated and economically better off than the average American. So it's a successful immigrant population.

In some countries (in Europe), you had an influx of people that came in as a colonial legacy and may have always felt they were viewed as secondclass citizens."

Mr Chertoff said one of the biggest fears was of "clean skin" terrorists where a person has legitimate documents and no intelligence record.

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