UK reduces terrorism threat level from 'severe' to 'substantial'

LONDON

The UK's home secretary announced on Wednesday that the UK's terrorism threat level has been reduced from "severe" to "substantial."

"The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has reduced the UK national terrorism threat level from severe to substantial. This means that a terrorist attack in the UK is likely," Priti Patel said in a statement.

"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," Patel added.

A threat level at severe indicates that a terrorist attack in the UK is "highly likely," she noted.

"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."

The five threat levels from highest to lowest are critical, severe, substantial, moderate, and low.

The threat level had been raised from substantial to severe due to the killing of member of parliament Sir David Amess in Essex on Oct. 15, and an explosion outside the Liverpool Women's Hospital on Nov. 14.

In her statement, Patel urged against complacency, saying: "Any reduction in the threat level is positive but it must never make us complacent."