Tony Blair spoke at the RUSI think tank to commemorate 20 years since the 9/11 attacks. He said: “Covid 19 has taught us about deadly pathogens. “Bio-terror possibilities may seem like the realm of science fiction. But we would be wise now to prepare for their potential use by non-state actors.
“Islamism, both the ideology and the violence, is a first order security threat; and, unchecked, it will come to us, even if centred far from us, as 9/11 demonstrated.”
Tony Blair was Prime Minister of the UK during the time of the attacks in New York.
The former Prime Minister sent British troops to Afghanistan in 2001.
This followed the 9/11 attack which killed 3,000 people, mostly in New York.
Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks on September 11, 2001.
The terrorist group were given protection and assistance by the Taliban who ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.
The former Prime Minister also suggested military presence and further assistance was necessary to deter terrorism.
Mr Blair said: “Counter-terrorism on its own won’t remove an entrenched threat.
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“Western societies and their political leaders have become quite understandably deeply averse to causalities amongst our armed forces. This is not a problem for the armed forces themselves who are brave and extraordinary people.
“But it is now an overwhelming political constraint to any commitment to any boots on the ground except for special forces.”
This follows as the last US solider left Afghanistan on August 30 after 20 years of military intervention in the region.
Tony Blair was the Prime Minister of the UK from 1997 to 2007.