LONDON
Britain's prime minister has lashed out at those who go off to commit violent acts in Syria and Iraq, describing British nationals who join the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) as "an enemy of the U.K."
"You have declared your allegiance. You are an enemy of the UK and you should expect to be treated as such," said David Cameron, delivering a speech at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham on Wednesday.
He underlined that his government would use "everything at our disposal to stop you," adding that Britain would take away their passports and prosecute, imprison and even prevent those who go abroad from returning to the U.K.
Highlighting ISIL's threat, Cameron said that there was no "walk on by" option.
"Let's be clear. Unless we deal with ISIL, they will deal with us, bringing terror and murder to our streets."
At the end of the end of 2014, Britain withdrew around 5200 remaining combat troops from Afghanistan, many of whom had been in the country fighting Taliban insurgents since 2001.
Drawing attention to the mission, Cameron said: "But the end of the Afghan mission does not mean the end of the threat. The threat is Islamist extremist terrorism - and it has found a new, hellish crucible - with ISIL, in Iraq and Syria."
He underlined what he called a "pure and simple" evil.
"They kill children; rape women; threaten non-believers with genocide; behead journalists and aid workers," he added.
British lawmakers voted Friday for the country to join in U.S.-led air strikes in Iraq against ISIL. On Wednesday it said two air force jets had fired four missiles at positions in Iraq - the first attack since the vote.
The Independent newspaper reported earlier this month that more than 500 British citizens are believed to have travelled to Syria as "jihadists" and 20 have been killed there.
www.aa.com.tr/en
