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| UK terrorist threat level raised to 'severe', Theresa May says | UK terrorist threat level raised to 'severe', Theresa May says |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK's terror threat level is being raised from "substantial" to "severe" in response to conflicts in Iraq and Syria, Home Secretary Theresa May says. | |
| The new alert level means an attack on the UK is "highly likely", although Mrs May said there was no intelligence to suggest an attack was "imminent". | |
| It is the second highest of five possible UK threat levels. | |
| PM David Cameron said at least 500 people have travelled from UK "to fight in Syria and potentially Iraq". | |
| National Policing Lead for Counter-Terrorism Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said security and protection measures were being increased from Friday. | |
| Efforts are also under way to identify a suspected British jihadist who appeared in Islamic State (IS) footage of the killing of US journalist James Foley. | |
| The extremist group has announced the establishment of a "caliphate", or Islamic state, across parts of Iraq and Syria and has forced members of minority communities from their homes. | |
| Scotland Yard chief Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe has said the force is prepared in case large numbers of British would-be extremists decide to return at the same time. | |
| 'Strongest possible action' | |
| In a statement Mrs May said: "The increase in the threat level is related to developments in Syria and Iraq where terrorist groups are planning attacks against the West. | |
| "Some of those plots are likely to involve foreign fighters who have travelled there from the UK and Europe to take part in those conflicts. | "Some of those plots are likely to involve foreign fighters who have travelled there from the UK and Europe to take part in those conflicts. |
| "The first and most important duty of government is the protection of the British people. | "The first and most important duty of government is the protection of the British people. |
| "We have already taken steps to improve our powers and increase our capabilities for dealing with the developing terrorist threats we face. That process will continue and the British public should be in no doubt that we will take the strongest possible action to protect our national security." | "We have already taken steps to improve our powers and increase our capabilities for dealing with the developing terrorist threats we face. That process will continue and the British public should be in no doubt that we will take the strongest possible action to protect our national security." |
| She said the UK faced a "real and serious" threat from international terrorism, urging members of the public to remain vigilant. | She said the UK faced a "real and serious" threat from international terrorism, urging members of the public to remain vigilant. |
| UK terror threat levels | UK terror threat levels |
| Critical - attack expected imminently | Critical - attack expected imminently |
| Severe - attack highly likely | Severe - attack highly likely |
| Substantial - attack a strong possibility | Substantial - attack a strong possibility |
| Moderate - attack possible but not likely | Moderate - attack possible but not likely |
| Low - an attack unlikely | Low - an attack unlikely |
| Source: Home Office | Source: Home Office |
| Mrs May said the decision to raise the threat level was made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). | Mrs May said the decision to raise the threat level was made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). |
| She added: "JTAC's judgements about that threat level are made on the basis of the very latest intelligence and are independent of ministers. | She added: "JTAC's judgements about that threat level are made on the basis of the very latest intelligence and are independent of ministers. |
| "JTAC has today raised the threat level to the UK from international terrorism from substantial to severe. | "JTAC has today raised the threat level to the UK from international terrorism from substantial to severe. |
| "That means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, but there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is imminent." | "That means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, but there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is imminent." |
| 'Escalating towards terrorism' | |
| AC Rowley said: "From this afternoon we will begin to increase our levels of visible patrols and implement other security and protection measures. | |
| "We will also build on existing community relations to provide reassurance and seek their support and assistance in keeping the UK safe." | |
| He urged communities and families to report anyone who is "vulnerable, a danger or escalating towards terrorism" by calling the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321. | |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said that for "99% of us" the change in threat level would not make "any difference to our lives whatsoever". | |
| However he said it had been raised in the light of British nationals travelling to Syria and mixing with "extremely violent people". More than half who went there have now returned and there is no way to follow them all, he added. | |
| The terror threat level has been made public since 2006 and has twice been raised to "critical" - in August 2006 after police uncovered a plot to blow up passenger planes, and in June 2007 after an attack at Glasgow Airport. | |
| The level last changed in July 2011 when it was reduced to "substantial". |