Tourist destinations popular with Westerners, particularly Britons, could now be under threat as crazed jihadis try to create a new stronghold.

Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines are all breeding grounds for radicalisation.

US-backed coalition forces are beginning to take the upper hand in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, forcing the brutal terror group’s leaders to desperately search for new bases.

In the latest body blow, ISIS fighters were driven out of the northern Syrian city of Manbij which they had controlled for more than two years.

… Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, told politico.eu: “ISIS has sent hundreds of thousands of dollars to Southeast Asia to plan, prepare and execute attacks.”

… Vikram Rajakumar, a senior analyst at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore, told politico.eu: “Economically, Southeast Asia is very unique, and given the high density of countries in the neighbourhood, including large Muslim populations in Indonesia, Malaysia and southern Philippines, it is only natural for ISIS to look to the region.”

Joseph Liow of the Brookings Center for East Asia Policy Studies in Washington told the same website: “The organisation poses a significant threat in part because of how fast it’s gained popularity among regional groups.”