Former Army Commander defiant against al-Shabaab Death List

Former army commander defiant after warning he may be on al-Shabaab death list

Former army commander defiant after warning he may be on al-Shabaab death list

Colonel Richard Kemp is featured on a video made by jihadists in Somalia urging UK fanatics to copy the street murder of Drummer Lee Rigby

THE former commander of British forces in Afghanistan may be on an al-Shabaab death list.

Colonel Richard Kemp is featured on a video made by jihadists in Somalia urging UK fanatics to copy the street murder of Drummer Lee Rigby.

The hour-long video includes footage in which Col Kemp, now retired, described his disgust at the soldier's killing.

Col Kemp, 54, said on Tuesday: "It is true that I have discussed this matter with the police anti-terrorist branch and they have shared with me concerns about my safety.

"But if al-Shabaab think they are likely to frighten me into submission by this sort of threat they are very much mistaken.

"I have spent most of my life fighting terrorism and I am obviously doing the right thing if my comments anger these ruthless terrorist killers who clearly show in their video that they want to attack our homeland."

In an interview with the Mirror shortly after the murder in Woolwich on May 22 he hit out at fanatical Islamist preachers who promote violence to vulnerable young jihadists.

He said at the time: "The Prime Minister is wrong to say that the fault for the murder of Drummer Lee Rigby lies solely with the individuals who carried out this indescribably vicious attack.

"Guilty also are the cowardly preachers of hate who seek out the gullible, poison their minds with anti-British bile and spur them on to bloody atrocities."