UK’s terror level raised to severe – here’s what it means and what are the threats

The UK terror threat level has been raised for the first time in five years. Here’s what it means in practice.

The move by Britain’s security services was sparked by the Golders Green attack on Wednesday, which saw two Jewish men being stabbed in north London.

Officials from the M15 raised the terrorism threat level to severe, the second-highest category available.

It means security services believe an attack is ‘highly likely’. There are five levels overall, with the highest being critical when an attack is highly likely in the near future.

Security expert Will Geddes told Metro what the threat level system is: ‘It is a trigger to the general public, being aware of prevalent risks, and saying we need to be on our guard.’

He said the level has been raised because the number of threat actors has increased, and not just in the UK but across Europe, due to geopolitical upheaval like the conflict in Iran, which is a key driver behind some of the groups.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the threat level was raised because of an increase in concerning cases rather than due to a specific terror plot being uncovered.

Geddes said the threat level change for the first time since November 2021 is significant, but raises the question of why it hasn’t been done sooner.

He said: ‘We have seen a sustained number of attacks, which have been escalating here in the United Kingdom, especially on a more profile level against Jewish communities.

‘But in terms of the threat groups we are currently facing, many of which have not changed but have been added to.’

The key threat groups in the UK right now are Iran-linked threats, Islamist extremism, lone actors and right-wing extremism, he said.

While the terror threat level covers every community, religion and demographic generally, Geddes said there has been a rise in activity linked to proxy groups with suspected Iranian affiliations, including in London.

Some of these groups are recruiting young people and low-level criminals, with payments ranging from just £200 up to £1,000 to carry out attacks, he claimed.

He said the country should already be at the top critical level after several attacks against the Jewish community recently, including the firebombing of the four charity-run ambulances last month.

He said: ‘I don’t think we are very far at all from critical, sadly.

‘We need to be at our highest level of vigilance.’

However, he said that most terror plots are unfoiled thanks to the involvement and contribution of the general public like reporting suspicious comings and goings or activity to the counter terrorism hotline.

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