Islamic State is a 'festering sore ready to burst'

The danger is very much clear and present once again

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The Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria holds more than 40,000 people, including individuals and families of those suspected of having Islamic State (IS) affiliations. (Photo: Elke Scholiers/Getty Images)

One of the biggest problems facing Syria’s transitional government is the continued existence of Islamic State - and this represents a direct threat to the UK.

This threat is not just the hundreds of armed men active in the country, but also those sleepers who are waiting to act.

Added to that - and perhaps just as problematic - are the almost 10,000 adult ISIS prisoners in jails in Syria controlled by the Western-allied Syrian Democratic Forces.

Then there are the some 40,000 detainees at the al-Hol prison - a large proportion of them being children - and 2,600 in al-Roj, which are both controlled by the Kurdish SDF.

It is estimated that more than 60% of the inmates at al-Hol are under 18 (and therefore possible ISIS recruits) with 44% under 12.