Intel gathering

Islamist terrorists tried to kill MI5 spy

A former MI5 spy has revealed he was nearly kidnapped and beheaded by Islamist extremists who had plotted to kill a British intelligence operative.

The spy narrowly escaped being lured into a trap by fanatics he was following and it was later discovered they had made preparations to film his execution.

The incident is recalled in a new book by the former intelligence officer who spent years carrying out street surveillance on Islamist, IRA, Russian and Chinese targets in the UK.