……..Despite JTAC's awareness of increased Islamist activity within the United Kingdom, shortcomings in counterterrorism intelligence contributed to the terrorists' ability to carry out their attack. At the time of the bombings, the U.K. intelligence community was well versed in counterterrorism from its experience with Northern Ireland. While this experience strengthened communication and collaboration among in telligence agencies and departments, it also served to divert attention from the rising threat of Islamic militants. The British intelligence community became preoccupied with the threat posed by Irish hard-liners opposed to the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement between Ireland and the United Kingdom. Even in the late 1990s, British intelligence and law enforcement, which had became aware of London's growing status as a base for Islamic terrorist organizations, did not view these groups as a threat to national security. Consequently, Islamist organizations were placed low on the British authorities' list of priorities.