British Home Secretary Theresa May warned on Tuesday that the Islamic State, also known as ISIL or Daesh, could acquire nuclear arms if allowed to consolidate its resources and described an attack against the West in apocalyptic terms.

In her speech during the annual Tory conference in Birmingham, May gave dire warnings of more indiscriminate Daesh killings as she outlined new measures to counter extremist groups.

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May said if the group succeeds in fully establishing a caliphate in Syria and Iraq, it will have the capacity to launch attacks against the West using "chemical, biological and even nuclear weapons."

The "world's first truly terrorist state" may arise, populated by terrorists who have the space to plot and devise new methods of terrorism without restraint, May told the Tories.

With the capability of a state backing them, Daesh could pose a threat "often prophesied, but thank God not yet fulfilled," she warned.

May's rousing remarks called on British leaders to not turn their backs on their responsibility, citing that while they still have the chance, they must destroy the jihadist group.

Daesh has acquired more than US$2 billion worth of assets by seizing oil fields and banks, reported the New York Daily News.

The amount would enable them to buy about 50 pounds of highly enriched uranium. With the right connections in Pakistan or Russia, the extremist group may build a crude nuclear device which they could smuggle into Western populations.

In a bid to curtail homegrown terrorism, May outlined the Communications Data Bill, also known as the 'snooper's charter', which she championed two years ago, but was met with strong opposition from the Liberal Democrats.

Under the bill, telecommunications and internet companies will be required to maintain records of people's calls and online activities in aid of investigations. The bill excludes keeping records of message and call contents.

She also proposed a ban on Islamist hate preachers from speaking on televised programs and public meetings, in addition to outlawing groups that are suspected of inciting violence and terrorism, The Independent reported.

May told the conference that innocent people are presently faced with terrorist threats. If measures were not set in place, she said, "we risk sleepwalking into a society in which crime can no longer be investigated and terrorists can plot their murderous schemes undisrupted."

Tagspolitics, Theresa May, International Law, Daesh