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MI5 to send e-mail terror alerts MI5 to send e-mail terror alerts
(about 10 hours later)
E-mail terror alerts will be sent out to the public under a new system launched by security chiefs at MI5. A system sending e-mail terror alerts to the public is being launched by security chiefs at MI5.
From Tuesday, people will be able to register on the MI5 website to receive updates when the threat level changes. People will be able to register on the MI5 website to receive updates when the threat level changes.
The initiative follows considerable interest in similar information for the public introduced in August on the MI5 and Home Office websites.The initiative follows considerable interest in similar information for the public introduced in August on the MI5 and Home Office websites.
MI5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller recently warned that it was tracking at least 30 terror plots against the UK.MI5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller recently warned that it was tracking at least 30 terror plots against the UK.
Whitehall says the move to introduce e-mail terror alerts has been in the pipeline for a while.Whitehall says the move to introduce e-mail terror alerts has been in the pipeline for a while.
Members of the public can also register to be notified of any other new information posted on the MI5 website.Members of the public can also register to be notified of any other new information posted on the MI5 website.
Text plansText plans
The Home Office says it is part of a long-planned programme of reaching out to the public and keeping it better informed about the terrorist threat.The Home Office says it is part of a long-planned programme of reaching out to the public and keeping it better informed about the terrorist threat.
Plans to extend the service to sending text messages to mobile phones are also being considered.Plans to extend the service to sending text messages to mobile phones are also being considered.
There will be two types of service on offer initially.
Text messages will update the public on threat levels
The first, called Threat Level Only, will inform the recipient if the nationwide terror threat level changes. The condition is currently listed as severe.
The second more inclusive service is called What's New, and will be a digest of the latest information from MI5, including speeches made by the director general and links to relevant websites.
The level of the terror threat to the UK is assessed by the government's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre.The level of the terror threat to the UK is assessed by the government's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre.
The current threat is set at the second highest level, "severe", which means an attack is considered "highly likely".The current threat is set at the second highest level, "severe", which means an attack is considered "highly likely".
In November, Dame Eliza, MI5's director general, warned the terror threat was "serious" and "growing", and that 1,600 individuals were being kept under surveillance.In November, Dame Eliza, MI5's director general, warned the terror threat was "serious" and "growing", and that 1,600 individuals were being kept under surveillance.