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UK terrorism threat downgraded to 'substantial' | UK terrorism threat downgraded to 'substantial' |
(32 minutes later) | |
The UK's terrorism threat level has been downgraded from "severe" to "substantial", the Home Office says. | The UK's terrorism threat level has been downgraded from "severe" to "substantial", the Home Office says. |
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the UK was still at "a high level of threat" and an attack could "occur without further warning". | |
The terrorism threat is now at its lowest since August 2014. Substantial is the third of five ratings at which the threat level can stand. | The terrorism threat is now at its lowest since August 2014. Substantial is the third of five ratings at which the threat level can stand. |
The separate terrorism threat level for Northern Ireland remains "severe". | The separate terrorism threat level for Northern Ireland remains "severe". |
Ms Patel said in a statement on Monday that terrorism remained a "direct and immediate" risk to the UK's national security. | |
Assessments determining the country's threat level are taken by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) - part of MI5 - which makes its recommendations independently from the government. | |
"Government, police and intelligence agencies will continue to work tirelessly to address the threat posed by terrorism in all its forms," Ms Patel said. | "Government, police and intelligence agencies will continue to work tirelessly to address the threat posed by terrorism in all its forms," Ms Patel said. |
The threat level is kept under "constant review", she added. | The threat level is kept under "constant review", she added. |
Neil Basu, head of counter terrorism policing, said there had been "positive developments" in the fight against terrorism but it was "vital that we all maintain a high level of vigilance". | Neil Basu, head of counter terrorism policing, said there had been "positive developments" in the fight against terrorism but it was "vital that we all maintain a high level of vigilance". |
He said the UK's counter terrorism policing team had about 800 live counter terrorism investigations - while 24 attack plots had been thwarted since the Westminster attack in March 2017. | He said the UK's counter terrorism policing team had about 800 live counter terrorism investigations - while 24 attack plots had been thwarted since the Westminster attack in March 2017. |
This is a significant change in the only official public measure of the threat posed by terrorism to the UK - but it's not a sign that there are suddenly fewer people with aspirations to do us harm. | |
The security services are still monitoring thousands of "subjects of interest" - the top-tier of would-be plotters from jihadist groups to the far-right. | |
Many of these people are very dangerous because, in the jargon, they are "lone actors" bent on DIY violence. | |
But what appears to have changed is the resources and capability available to IS-supporting plotters who need help. | |
Quite simply, a huge number of the foreign fighters who played a key role linking these followers to resources and support died on the battlefields of the militant group's last stand. | |
Continuing propaganda from the survivors, portraying IS as a force to be reckoned with, also has less credibility for would-be recruits. | |
And so it has become harder - for now at least - for some of those with intent to get the help they need to carry out their aspirations. | |
The UK's terrorism threat level was raised to the highest rating, "critical", in May 2017 after the Manchester Arena bombing. | The UK's terrorism threat level was raised to the highest rating, "critical", in May 2017 after the Manchester Arena bombing. |
It was downgraded to "severe" in September 2017 and remained at that level until Monday. | It was downgraded to "severe" in September 2017 and remained at that level until Monday. |
The Northern Ireland threat level specifically refers to threat to the country from Northern Ireland-related terrorism. It remains at severe - the second-highest level. | The Northern Ireland threat level specifically refers to threat to the country from Northern Ireland-related terrorism. It remains at severe - the second-highest level. |
The five levels of threat set by the JTAC are: | The five levels of threat set by the JTAC are: |