A former MI6 spy and ex-Al-Qaida member, Aimen Dean, has issued a stark warning about the potential for a new 9/11 or 7/7 style terror attack, claiming that 'hundreds' of Al-Qaida sleeper agents are currently residing in the UK. Dean, who spent eight years working for the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) gathering vital intelligence for MI5 and MI6, asserts that the gravest threat to Western nations stems from the spread of Islamic extremism and the escalating influence of Iran. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, 'It's not about if another 9/11 or 7/7 attack will happen; it's about when.'

Mr. Dean's perilous undercover work within the terror group was instrumental in thwarting significant Al-Qaida plots, including a scheme to target passengers on the New York subway. He expressed concern that the West is misdirecting its focus by prioritizing Russia as the primary adversary, arguing that government policy should instead concentrate on countering Iran. Dean alleges that Iran has 'hosted' Al-Qaida for 25 years, thereby creating opportunities for 'sleeper cells' to execute attacks on British nationals, including fatal assaults in the UAE. He also predicts an increase in 'lone-wolf' style attacks in the future and estimates that while an exact number is impossible to ascertain, there are at least 'hundreds' of potential Al-Qaida members in the UK who could be activated for terror attacks at any given moment.

Dean's journey into extremism began at 17, after fighting in the Bosnian war, when he met Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks. At 18, he trained in Afghanistan for 11 months, learning bomb-making, a process he found appealing due to its mathematical aspects as a self-confessed 'nerd'. He spent time developing explosives alongside notorious figures like Moez Fezzani (now an ISIS leader) and terror mastermind Abu Khabab, who was responsible for Al-Qaida's mass-casualty weapons development until his death in a 2008 CIA drone strike.

However, Mr. Dean's perspective fundamentally shifted after just a year with Al-Qaida, despite having personally pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden as a teenager. The devastating 1998 suicide bomb attacks on American embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Tanzania, which killed 200 people and injured 4,000, served as a profound turning point. He realized he had chosen the wrong path and, to escape the organization's grasp, feigned illness and traveled to Qatar, where he formally renounced Al-Qaida.

Just nine days later, his life took an unexpected turn when MI6 agents approached him. After verifying his true disengagement from the group and recognizing his aptitudes, particularly for skills like map reading, the spy agency swiftly brought him back to the UK as their newest asset. Dean subsequently returned to working with Al-Qaida, all the while secretly funneling critical intelligence to MI6, which is credited with saving countless lives.

He recounted the constant terror of potential discovery, vividly recalling an instance in 2001 when he was summoned to meet a close ally of Osama bin Laden and was certain his cover was blown. Fortunately, he was instead tasked with delivering a cryptic message to four 'brothers' in London, instructing them to leave the country before September 1st, anticipating American retaliation in Afghanistan. A few months later, the 9/11 attacks occurred, killing around 3,000 people, though Dean had no prior specific knowledge of these attacks.

Soon after, Dean uncovered the plot to attack the New York subway, orchestrated by Khabab. His crucial tip led to the plot's swift foiling, undoubtedly averting a major catastrophe. Throughout his deep infiltration, Dean managed to penetrate the highest echelons of Al-Qaida, from Osama bin Laden himself, down to sinister recruiters and agitators like the notorious Abu Hamza at Finsbury Park Mosque in London. Eventually, Aimen Dean's cover was compromised following an article published on the website of Time magazine, which, despite not naming him directly, contained enough verifiable details for Al-Qaida to deduce his identity. He immediately contacted his MI5 and MI6 handlers, was rushed to London, placed in a safe house, and given a new identity. He later authored a tell-all memoir detailing his extraordinary experiences as an undercover agent.