The UK’s terrorism threat level has been raised from substantial to severe, meaning an attack is now considered highly likely, following a terrorist attack and incidents targeting the Jewish community, the Head of Counter Terrorism Policing has confirmed.
The change was announced by the Home Secretary following a recommendation from the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre. Laurence Taylor, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, said the UK had been experiencing a gradual increase in terrorist threats for some time, driven by a rise in both Islamist and Extreme Right-Wing terrorism, and that casework was increasing across a number of ideologies.
Taylor said there was an elevated threat to Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions in the UK, and that the country was also working against an unpredictable global situation with consequences closer to home, including physical threats by state-linked actors.
An enhanced police response was already in place following what Taylor described as yesterday’s horrific terrorist attack and incidents targeting the Jewish community, and all police forces were reviewing their response in light of the change in threat level. Members of the public were told they may see more officers than usual in some areas, deployed unpredictably, and that police would continue to work with community and faith groups.
Taylor said the full range of counter terrorism tactical options was at the disposal of police and would be deployed nationally and without hesitation. He said authorities were reviewing casework, live investigations and subjects of interest alongside security service partners, and were advising businesses to review their protective security plans.
Addressing the public directly, Taylor said “I understand this announcement may cause you concern, but I ask that you be alert and not alarmed” and urged anyone with concerns about possible terrorist activity to report it at gov.uk/ACT, saying “every report is looked at, and you won’t be wasting our time.” He said communities had shown time and again that they were “united in their rejection of those who wish to divide us and spread hate in the name of extremism.”
Why has the British Government still not proscribed the IRGC? I note that the Americans or Australians would have cancelled the citizenship of someone born abroad who committed violent crime & deported them. We just lock them up for a few years, then let them out to re offend.
“Islamist and Extreme Right-Wing terrorism”
Typical of a Leftist establishment, extreme left-wing has been banned from the narrative despite them attacking arme forces and defence industry assets.