The downgrade means there is a ‘strong possibility’ of an attack
The UK’s terror threat level has been lowered from ‘severe’ to ‘substantial’, said the Home Office.
The level was raised in 2007 meaning an attack was ‘highly likely’, the downgrade means there is a ‘strong possibility’ of an attack.
The Home Secretary Alan Johnson said: ‘The change in the threat level to substantial does not mean the overall threat has gone away – there remains a real and serious threat against the United Kingdom and I would ask that the public remain vigilant.’
The level is set by the UK’s Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). Its decision is based on the currently assessed intent and capabilities of international terrorist groups.
“The change in the threat level to substantial does not mean the overall threat has gone away.
The Home Secretary Alan Johnson
The public was told not to let the fear of terrorism stop them from going about their day-to-day lives as normal.
At ‘substantial’, the threat from terrorism is at its lowest since levels were first made public three years ago.
‘We still face a real and serious threat from terrorists and the public will notice little difference in the security measures that are in place, and I urge the public to remain vigilant’ added the Home Secretary.
