The UK national terrorism threat level has been reduced from severe to substantial, meaning an attack is “likely” rather than “highly likely”, home secretary Priti Patel has said.
Addressing the House of Commons, Ms Patel confirmed that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) had concluded that the threat level could be downgraded.
She added: ““JTAC previously raised the UK national threat level from substantial to severe following two terrorist attacks in the UK in quick succession, in October and November 2021.
“When the threat level is at severe it means an attack is highly likely.
“JTAC judges that, despite these two attacks, the current nature and scale of the UK terrorist threat is consistent with the level of threat seen prior to the attacks.”
Ms Patel said that while the decision to reduce the threat level was positive, Britons should not be complacent.
“Terrorism remains one of the most direct and immediate risks to our national security,” she told MPs. “The public should remain alert, but not alarmed, and report any concerns they may have to the police.”
Ali Harbi Ali, 25, is accused of his murder and preparing acts of terrorism between May 1 2019 and September 28 last year.
Ali denied the charges at a hearing at the Old Bailey in December and faces a trial later this year.
A month later, Emad Al Swealmeen died after detonating an explosive device inside a taxi outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital. The driver, David Perry, survived the blast, captured on hospital CCTV.
His inquest revealed he bought 2,000 ball bearings and rented a “bomb-making factory” to manufacture a device with “murderous intent”.
