British jihadis are being ordered by ISIS to forget travelling to Syria, remain in the UK and wait for a signal to attack. Days before the Paris massacre, UK-based jihadis were being told of plans for imminent attacks in both France and Britain, messages seen by the Mail Investigations Unit suggest. They are being advised not to risk travelling to Syria but to stay hidden in Britain until ISIS commanders give ‘the signal' to strike. The orders, sent over the past few days on encrypted messaging sites, are almost impossible to verify. But security sources confirmed they are seeing a shift in ISIS tactics. The warnings will add to growing fears of attacks in the UK following the Paris massacre eight days ago in which 130 people were killed. The Mail Investigations Unit has been shown messages sent to a radicalised individual in the UK over the past two weeks encouraging would-be fighters to launch terror attacks in Britain. The UK-based extremists are being asked what weapons they have and how much ammunition. They are told to stay in contact with ISIS online, and wait for further instructions on where and when to launch attacks. They are also being advised on how to avoid detection by security services and how to recruit other young people. And they are being told to take care to target only ‘kuffars' – unbelievers – and not to kill Muslims in any attack. This could be a sign that ISIS leadership is concerned about its image following the Paris massacre, in which a number of Muslims were killed including the mother of a young girl. The messages will also raise renewed concerns over the use of encrypted messaging services by terrorists – which are making it increasingly difficult for the authorities to monitor ISIS communications. David Cameron has hinted that Islamic State – also known as ISIS – had changed tactics. ‘It is clear that the threat from ISIS is evolving,' he said. ‘[The Paris] attacks suggest a new degree of planning and coordination and the greater ambition for mass casualty attacks. 'And we must recognize that however strong we are, however much we prepare, we in the UK face the same threat.' Last month Andrew Parker, the Director General of MI5, admitted the security services' ability to intercept communications was becoming more difficult. And he said that plots against the UK were being directed from Syria. ‘We are seeing plots against the UK directed by terrorists in Syria; enabled through contacts with terrorists in Syria; and inspired online by ISIS's sophisticated exploitation of technology,' he said. ‘It uses the full range of modern communications tools to spread its message of hate, and to inspire extremists, some in their teens, to conduct attacks in whatever way they can. 'The speed at which the process of radicalisation can occur online, and the emphasis on relatively low sophistication but nevertheless potentially deadly plots, are two major challenges. ‘On top of that, we have seen greater ambition for mass casualty attacks. All of this underlines the growing threat we face.'
