Paris terror attacks ringleader entered Britain earlier this year: reports

LONDON - The ringleader of the brutal terror attacks in Paris last month entered Britain, traveling to London and Birmingham, according to reports of local media.

Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 28, had visited London and Birmingham earlier this year, British counter-terrorism officials have confirmed. He also met with people suspected of having the intention and capability of plotting or assisting terrorist activity against Britain.

Local media said people he met in Britain are currently being investigated by MI5 and police counter-terrorism units. The entrance of the IS militant raised concern about Britain's security.

British Home Office has made no comment about this so far. Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command has not confirm or deny that a Paris attacker had previously visited Britain.

However, West Midlands Police said in a statement on Saturday that "The West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit is working hand-in-hand with counter terrorism colleagues in London, the national CT(Counter Terrorism) network and security services to provide support to the French and Belgian investigations and of course to address any associated terrorism threat to the UK."

"The threat to the UK from international terrorism remains at severe, meaning an attack is considered to be highly likely. We ask that people remain alert, vigilant but not alarmed and report anything suspicious to us at the earliest possible opportunity," it added.

Abaaoud was killed in a police raid in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis five days after Paris attacks, which killed 130 people and injured more than 350.