UK Terror Threat Level Raised To 'Severe'

[Gordon Ray Kissinger]

Breaking News10:23pm UK, Friday January 22, 2010

UK Terror Threat Level Raised To 'Severe'
Jo Couzens, Sky News Online

The terror threat level in the UK has been raised from "substantial" to "severe", meaning an attack is "highly likely".

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Home Secretary Alan Johnson sought to reassure the public, saying: "I have to emphasise the fact it does not mean an attack is imminent."

He said the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) keeps the threat level under constant review and makes its judgements based on a "broad range of factors".

Mr Johnson said those factors include "the intent and capabilities of international terrorist groups in the UK and overseas".

He went on: "We still face a real and serious threat to the UK from international terrorism.

"I would urge the public to remain vigilant and carry on reporting suspicious events to the appropriate authorities and to support the police and security services in their efforts to consider those involved in terrorism."

The Home Secretary added that specific details would not be made public.

"We never say what the intelligence is and it would be pretty daft of us to do that," he said.

"So we are not going to be specific publicly about this."

Mr Johnson insisted the decision to escalate the threat level is not specifically linked to the Detroit Christmas Day plane bombing attempt or any other incident.


The United Kingdom is raising their measures to effectively [be] where we are with the airport security measures that we have taken and announced over the last few weeks.
Sara Kuban, US Department of Homeland Security

The Detroit incident has moved the focus of the fight against terror to Yemen, where bomb suspect Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab reportedly claimed he was supplied with explosives.

"It shouldn't be thought to be linked to Detroit or anywhere else for that matter. We would obviously not be specific about those kinds of matters."

An official from the Department of Homeland Security told Sky News the increased threat level brings the UK in line with the US in terms of airport security measures.

"The United Kingdom is raising their measures to effectively [be] where we are with the airport security measures that we have taken and announced over the last few weeks," said Sara Kuban.


I have to emphasise the fact it does not mean an attack is imminent.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson

"We have enhanced our security measures and communicated specific information to industry, law enforcement and the American people."

The increase in the UK's threat level reverses a decision last July to downgrade the likelihood of a terror attack from "severe" to "substantial".

The threat level was first made public on August 1, 2006, when it was set at "severe".

It was raised to "critical" on August 10 that year after a series of arrests over an alleged plot to blow up transatlantic aircraft but lowered to "severe" again the following week.

The threat level was last at critical in June 2007, following the attack on Glasgow Airport and the failed car bombings in central London.