Al-Quaeda posing greater threat: Lloyd’s

Lloyds is warning that a growing network of cells spread throughout the world means the al-Qaeda brand is as strong as ever and capable of matching the devastation witnessed on 9/11.Referring to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IIHS)s 2007 Strategic Survey, the Lloyds report noted that a number of regional jihadist groups, most in north and west Africa, had not only sworn allegiance to al-Quaeda, but had also begun demonstrating ambitions beyond their parochial concerns, to further al-Quaedas global objectives.This forms part of the increasing evidence to suggest that core al-Quaeda is proving adaptable and resilient, and has retained an ability to plan and coordinate large-scale attacks in the Western World, Lloyds said in a statement. Home-grown terrorism was seen as a significant emerging threat for business by 98% of the attendees at Lloyds terrorism conference this summer, the statement says.The IIHS believes that it will take decades to defeat the long-term challenge from al-Quaeda in the West, John Chipman, IIHS director general, told Lloyds.That means looking again at issues as complex as the relative balance between individual and community rights and between secular and religious visions of social organizations, Chipman said.