Britain unveils new anti-terror measures

David Cameron has unveiled a series of new measures to combat the threat of terrorism, including giving police the powers to seize passports at UK borders of British citizens they suspect could be travelling abroad to fight with terror groups.

"To confront the threat of Islamist extremism, we need a tough, intelligent, patient and comprehensive approach to defeat the terrorist threat at source," Cameron told the British Parliament in an oral statement.

Commenting on the terrorist threat facing Britain, he said: "we have all been shocked and sickened by the barbarism that has been witnessed in Iraq this summer," including the beheading of American journalist James Foley "with the voice of what seems to be a British terrorist" recorded in a video.

"We will introduce specific and targeted legislation providing the police with a temporary power to seize a passport at the border, during which time they will be able to investigate the individual concerned," he said, stressing that "passports are not an automatic right."

"We are clear in principle that what we need is a targeted, discretionary power to allow us to exclude British nationals from the UK," he noted.

"We will introduce new powers to add to our existing terrorism prevention and investigation measures, including stronger locational constraints on suspects under TPIMs (Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measures), " he said.

Noting that Britain's new approach to tackling radicalization focuses on "all types of extremism," the prime minister said: "Anyone subject to our strengthened terrorism prevention and investigation measures will be required to engage with the Prevent program."

"Adhering to British values is not an option or a choice; it is a duty for all those who live in these islands. So we will stand up for our values; we will, in the end, defeat this extremism," he added.

The move follows the announcement on Friday that the UK's terror threat has been upgraded from 'substantial' to 'severe', with the Home Secretary saying an attempted attack was now "highly likely".

The police will be able to seize someone's passport at the border if they suspect they are going abroad to take part in the conflict in countries like Syria.

He also announced that, if the courts ruled against the government on these powers, he would push through primary legislation immediately to over-rule the judges.

The government will consult on new measures to prevent British citizens returning to the country if they have taken part abroad in activities incompatible with British citizenship.

All airlines will have to hand over passenger lists in advance, or they won't be able to land here.

Terrorist suspects here will be subject to new powers along the lines of control orders, including the mysteriously entitled 'relocation powers.'

Britain will host this year's NATO summit in Wales on Thursday and Friday, with nearly 60 world leaders, 70 foreign ministers, 70 defense ministers and 28 NATO member countries invited.