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| UK terror threat level raised to 'severe' | UK terror threat level raised to 'severe' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The UK's terror threat level has been raised from "substantial" to "severe" in response to conflicts in Iraq and Syria, Home Secretary Theresa May says. | The UK's terror threat level has been raised from "substantial" to "severe" in response to conflicts in Iraq and Syria, Home Secretary Theresa May says. |
| The new alert level rates the risk of an attack on the UK "highly likely", although Mrs May said there was no evidence to suggest one was "imminent". | The new alert level rates the risk of an attack on the UK "highly likely", although Mrs May said there was no evidence to suggest one was "imminent". |
| It is the second highest of five possible UK threat levels. | It is the second highest of five possible UK threat levels. |
| PM David Cameron said new legislation would make it easier to take passports from those travelling abroad to fight. | PM David Cameron said new legislation would make it easier to take passports from those travelling abroad to fight. |
| The home secretary already has the power, under the Royal Prerogative, to withhold a passport if it is in the public interest to stop somebody travelling. | The home secretary already has the power, under the Royal Prerogative, to withhold a passport if it is in the public interest to stop somebody travelling. |
| That power was used 14 times between April 2013 and the end of March 2014 to stop people travelling abroad for alleged terrorist-related or criminal activity. | |
| 'Gaps in armoury' | 'Gaps in armoury' |
| In a Downing Street press conference on Friday, Mr Cameron said Islamic State (IS) extremists - who are attempting to establish a "caliphate", or Islamic state - represented a "greater and deeper threat to our security than we have known before". | In a Downing Street press conference on Friday, Mr Cameron said Islamic State (IS) extremists - who are attempting to establish a "caliphate", or Islamic state - represented a "greater and deeper threat to our security than we have known before". |
| He said that "learning lessons from the past doesn't mean there isn't a place for our military" in combating the threat, but did not commit to any military action. | He said that "learning lessons from the past doesn't mean there isn't a place for our military" in combating the threat, but did not commit to any military action. |
| He added the "threat is growing" from Britons travelling to fight with IS, saying at least 500 people had travelled from the UK "to fight in Syria and potentially Iraq". | |
| Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead for counter-terrorism, said security and protection measures were being increased following the increase in the threat level. | Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the Association of Chief Police Officers' lead for counter-terrorism, said security and protection measures were being increased following the increase in the threat level. |
| And efforts are continuing to identify a suspected British jihadist who appeared in IS footage of the killing of US journalist James Foley. | |
| Mr Cameron said the murder of Mr Foley was "clear evidence - not that any more was needed - that this is not some far-off [problem], thousands of miles away, that we can ignore". | Mr Cameron said the murder of Mr Foley was "clear evidence - not that any more was needed - that this is not some far-off [problem], thousands of miles away, that we can ignore". |
| He did not give extensive details on what the changed threat level would mean, stressing people "should continue to go about our lives in the normal way". | He did not give extensive details on what the changed threat level would mean, stressing people "should continue to go about our lives in the normal way". |
| As well as making it easier to take away the passports of suspected British jihadists, Mr Cameron said measures to tackle the threat included: | As well as making it easier to take away the passports of suspected British jihadists, Mr Cameron said measures to tackle the threat included: |
| More steps to deal with the threat would be announced on Monday, Mr Cameron said, adding there were "gaps in our armoury" which needed to be strengthened. | More steps to deal with the threat would be announced on Monday, Mr Cameron said, adding there were "gaps in our armoury" which needed to be strengthened. |
| 'Attacks against West' | 'Attacks against West' |
| Earlier, 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." |
| Analysis by Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent | Analysis by Dominic Casciani, BBC home affairs correspondent |
| The raised threat level may not lead to visible signs of change on the streets - but it is a sign of the increased concern and security activity behind the scenes involving all of the UK's intelligence and security bodies. | The raised threat level may not lead to visible signs of change on the streets - but it is a sign of the increased concern and security activity behind the scenes involving all of the UK's intelligence and security bodies. |
| The last time the level was this high was between January 2010 and the summer of 2011. This may have been linked to attempts by an al-Qaeda affiliate to smuggle bombs on to planes heading out of the Middle East. | The last time the level was this high was between January 2010 and the summer of 2011. This may have been linked to attempts by an al-Qaeda affiliate to smuggle bombs on to planes heading out of the Middle East. |
| The highest level is "critical"- meaning an attack is expected imminently. Officials have twice put the country on such an alert - in 2006 after the discovery of liquid bombs aimed at airliners and then the following year when extremists attempted to bomb Glasgow Airport and London's West End. | The highest level is "critical"- meaning an attack is expected imminently. Officials have twice put the country on such an alert - in 2006 after the discovery of liquid bombs aimed at airliners and then the following year when extremists attempted to bomb Glasgow Airport and London's West End. |
| In other words - if security chiefs had knowledge of a clear threat they could not contain, the level would already be one notch higher. | In other words - if security chiefs had knowledge of a clear threat they could not contain, the level would already be one notch higher. |
| Mrs May said decisions about the threat level were 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." |
| Increased patrols | Increased patrols |
| AC Rowley said: "From this afternoon we will begin to increase our levels of visible patrols and implement other security and protection measures. | 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." | "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. | |
| Baroness Neville-Jones, a former chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee, said the higher threat level was "justified", adding it was "not something you do for the sake of it". | |
| UK terror threat levels | UK terror threat levels |
| Source: Home Office | Source: Home Office |
| The terror threat level was made public in 2006. | |
| The level last changed in July 2011 when it was reduced to "substantial". | The level last changed in July 2011 when it was reduced to "substantial". |
| What is the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre? | What is the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre? |