LONDON – The United Kingdom terrorism threat level has been raised to “severe”, meaning an attack is “highly likely” in the next six months.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre says the increase followed April 29’s stabbings in Golders Green, but “is not solely a result of that attack.”
Two Jewish men – 34-year-old Shloime Rand and 76-year-old Moshe Shine – were attacked on Wednesday. Police are treating it as a terrorist incident.
A Jewish security volunteer helped hold down the suspect after police Tasered him.
The suspect is 45-year-old Essa Suleiman from southeast London. He came to the UK from Somalia in the early 1990s.
It emerged Suleiman was referred to the government’s counter-terrorism Prevent programme in 2020.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has responded to the increase in terror threat level, saying he wants to “reassure all Londoners and visitors that we are doing everything possible to protect our city and keep all of our communities safe”.
He says emergency services prepare “day in, day out” for these situations, and have “well-rehearsed plans” with specialist officers working “around the clock”.
He adds: “There will be additional police officers on London’s streets over the coming days – including additional armed officers – they are there to help our police service to keep us all safe.”
“Severe” is the second highest threat level, below “critical”. The UK was last at a “severe” terror threat level in November 2021, following the Liverpool Women’s Hospital bombing and murder of Member of Parliament David Amess. It was lowered to “substantial” in February 2022.
There are five threat levels:
* Critical — an attack is highly likely in the near future
* Severe — an attack is highly likely
* Substantial — an attack is likely
* Moderate — an attack is possible, but not likely
* Low — an attack is highly unlikely
The government says Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre threat assessment is an “independent, systematic, and rigorous process, based on the very latest intelligence and analysis of internal and external factors which drive the threat”.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the raised threat level “will be a source of concern to many, particularly amongst our Jewish community, who have suffered so much”.
Repeating the government’s earlier announcement of increased funding for policing and security at synagogues, schools and community centres, Mahmood says “we will do everything in our power to rid society of the evil of antisemitism”.
“As the threat level rises, I urge everyone to be vigilant, as they go about their daily lives, and report any concerns they have to the police,” she says. (BBC)
