Al-Qaeda 'back in Afghanistan' relaunches training camps and 'poses major threat to UK'

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Counter-terrorism sources claim that the Al-Qaeda group has secretly set up small bases in the war-torn country of Afghanistan and is preparing fighters in the midst of chaos - which poses a major threat to the Western world

Al-Qaeda has reinstated training camps in Afghanistan, counter-terrorism sources fear (

Image: Getty Images)

Al-Qaeda has re-established training camps in Afghanistan and is once again posing a major threat to the UK, counter-terror sources fear.

He has secretly set up small bases in the war-torn country and is preparing fighters amid the chaos.

Several thousand are believed to now live there, many of whom have been aided by the Afghan Taliban.

Sources said the US intelligence agency, the CIA, was trying to counter the threat using drones.

The US military reportedly blew up one of al-Qaeda's new bases days after killing terror group leader Ayman Zawahiri as he stood on a balcony in Kabul.

The site of Ghazni, southwest of the capital, was a former American military base, probably taken over by al-Qaeda.

A rare gathering of women marching past the Ministry of Education building was dispersed by Taliban fighters on Saturday (

Picture:

Getty Images)

A Western military source said: "This alleged drone attack, which comes so soon after Zawahiri was targeted, is indicative of a new era in the fight against terrorism.

"This is probably a terrorist training camp. Zawahiri's presence in Kabul confirmed that Al-Qaeda has re-established its presence in Afghanistan for some time.

"But it is very likely that there are more such training camps and most likely that they are in positions where coalition troops once had camps."

Labour MP John Spellar, Deputy Chairman of the House Defense Committee, said: "It is clear that the Taliban leaders in Afghanistan have reneged on their promise not to harbor al-Qaeda.