The British public must ‘be alert, not alarmed’ in the lead up to Christmas as terror threat level is raised to severe, the Met Police warned today.
The UK’s terror threat was increased from substantial to severe - meaning an attack is ‘highly likely’ rather than ‘likely’, after a bomb was detonated in a taxi outside Liverpool Women’s Hospital killing suspect Emad Al Swealmeen, 32.
Today officers warned that crowded places could become targets - calling on people to report anything suspicious.
Matt Twist, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations, said: “This is all around being alert, not alarmed.
“This is the first proper Christmas we have had in a couple of years.
“There are going to be lots of places that are busy. There are going to be lots of venues getting back on their feet, lots of crowded places, lots of gatherings.”
Speaking on LBC radio, Mr Twist called for the public to report anything unusual, including a changed or suspicious behaviour among loved ones.
He added: “We want people to be vigilant, looking out for what’s unusual, looking out for things that may be suspicious, may concern them.
“That can be anything from a bag that’s in the wrong place – I think the public are well aware of that sort of thing – but also to stuff in their home or family lives, their friends becoming withdrawn or insulated, or making concerning comments.
“It’s all around getting ahead of this. If you report something, the message is: You’re not going to ruin someone’s life, but you might just save one.”
Speaking after the Al Swealmeen incident, Assistant Commissioner Matt Jukes, the head of UK counter-terrorism policing, said lone wolf terrorists are of particular concern to the general public. However, he said it is possible to spot odd behaviour, as they may still give clues to friends and family.
He added: “The lone actor is still a real concern for us. The individual who spends time online. But the reality is they’re never really completely alone – inspired by something they see online, instructed by something they’ve seen online, and also often in contact with friends and family."
There will be an increased police presence in cities such as London and police officers will boost their online work.
