U.K. raises terror alert, says attack 'highly likely'
Home Secretary Alan Johnson added, however, that 'there's no intelligence to suggest an attack is imminent.'
By Reuters Tags: Israel newsBritain raised its international terrorism threat level to 'severe' - its second highest level of terror alert - from 'substantial' on Friday, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said.
"The Joint Terrorism Analysis Center has today raised the threat to the U.K. from international terrorism from substantial to severe. This means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, but I should stress that there is no intelligence to suggest than an attack is imminent," he said in a statement.
"JTAC keeps the threat level under constant review and makes its judgments based on a broad range of factors, including the intent and capabilities of international terrorist groups in the U.K. and overseas," the statement said.
Britain, a close U.S. ally, hosts an international conference on Afghanistan on Jan. 28 that London says may set a timetable for transferring responsibility for some areas to Afghan control.
Those present will include Afghan President Hamid Karzai, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and foreign ministers of Afghanistan's other main partners.
The threat level was last changed on July 20, 2009 when it was lowered to substantial from severe. It had been lowered to severe on July 4, 2007 from critical, the highest level, which had been declared on June 30, 2007.Talks on Afghanistan will be preceded by a Jan. 27 meeting on Yemen, which declared war on Al-Qaida last week under pressure for a crackdown on the global militant group after its Yemen-based wing said it was behind an attempt on Dec. 25 to blow up a U.S. passenger jet.
The West and neighboring Saudi Arabia fear Yemen could become a failed state, allowing al Qaeda to use the country as a launchpad for further international attacks.
The meeting brings together foreign ministers of Yemen's main development partners.
A Home Office advisory said the threat level meant people should remain on alert for danger, including looking for suspicious bags on public transport.
But it added that they should go ahead with life as normal as the risk of being caught up in an attack was very low.
Commenting on the elevated threat in Britain, U.S. Homeland Security Department Matt Chandler said:
"The U.K. is raising their measures to effectively where we are with the airport security measures that we have taken and announced over the last few weeks."
"We have enhanced our security measures and communicated specific information to industry, law enforcement and the American people."
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British Home Secretary Johnson. |
| Photo by: (Reuters) |
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Hmm seems there were terror attacks in London. whay did they think then
The Home Secretary raises the terrorist threat level and then admits: I haven't got a clue why! Unofficial briefings suggest that Alan Johnson has been talking to the pixies at the bottom of his garden. The smart money says it's to help his old pal Tony B.liar who faces the Iraq enquiry next week and would like nothing more than to change the subject from regime change and to waffle on about 'terror' instead.
NO intelligence, no ledership, hundereds of terrorists just waiting to do what they do best and at the same time claiming off the state. What do they say? "Watch out there a terrorist about!"
the west has been giving out visas way too easily. the west has not paid attention to those who travel to islamist countries. it is being reported that a few dozen converts have travelled from the us to train for terror attacks. it is also being reported that women who do not look arab have been recruited by islamic terrorists.
Scare mongering,that is all they do in the U.K. Attack not imminent but "highly likely" All hogwash.
The west seems to have gone soft in the head and to be suffering from a fatal disease called political correctness. http://www.ourchangingglobe.com/americans-are-prejudiced-against-muslims/ I know the Brits are referring to Muslims; you know it; everybody knows it. So let's start saying it. "Muslim threats" or "Islamic threats if you prefer".
Why don't they do something to extirpate their enormous factory of terrorists, rather than "raising terror alerts"?
Laughable ! Since most of the terrorists now in the West are there in the UK living well and being fed by the reluctant tax payer.
An attack is imminent yet no intelligence to back it up? Someone have a "feeling" over there?