Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
National
Katy Clifton

Terrorism threat in UK downgraded to 'substantial' from 'severe'

Priti Patel, Secretary of State for the Home Department (Picture: Getty Images)

​The terrorism threat in the UK has been downgraded to "substantial" from "severe", Priti Patel has said.

The Home Secretary's announcement on Monday means an attack is now deemed "likely" rather than "highly likely".

The decision was announced in a written ministerial statement to Parliament on Monday.

In it, she said: "Despite the change in the threat level, terrorism remains one of the most direct and immediate risks to our national security.

"Substantial continues to indicate a high level of threat; and an attack might well occur without further warning.

"As ever, the public should remain vigilant and report any concerns they may have to the police.

"Government, police and intelligence agencies will continue to work tirelessly to address the threat posed by terrorism in all its forms.

"The threat level is kept under constant review."

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) - part of MI5 - makes the decision on the threat level independently of Government ministers, after weighing up intelligence and known terrorist groups. A review is carried out every six months.

The level was raised to "critical" in May 2017 after the Manchester Arena bombing and later downgraded to "severe", where it has remained since September 2017.

Additional reporting by Press Association.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.