Extremists who are unable to reach the Middle East to fight for Islamic State may carry out attacks in the UK instead, the Director of Public Prosecutions has warned.

Alison Saunders said that the type of the prosecutions are changing as it emerged there have been more than 100 convictions in the UK for Iraq and Syria-related terrorism.

Of the 109 people convicted of terrorism offences related to Iraq or Syria 85 per cent had never set foot in either of the countries, it emerged.