The UK terrorism threat level has been raised to “severe” by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre after the Golders Green stabbings, meaning a terror attack is thought to be “highly likely”.
The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, described Wednesday’s attack as a vile act of terrorism. “Today, the national threat level has increased to ‘severe’, which means a terrorist attack is considered highly likely,” she said.
“I know this will be a source of concern to many, particularly amongst our Jewish community, who have suffered so much.”
The assessment to raise the threat level to severe judges that an attack is highly likely in the next six months. The previous level of “substantial” meant an attack was assessed as likely.
Severe is the second highest level of five terrorism threat levels.
The Home Office said: “The increase in threat comes following yesterday’s stabbing in Golders Green in north London, but it is not solely a result of that attack. The terrorist threat level in the UK has been rising for some time, driven by an increase in broader Islamist and extreme rightwing terrorist threat from individuals and small groups based in the UK.
“While the UK national threat level set independently by JTAC reflects the terrorist threat in the UK, it comes against a backdrop of increased state-linked physical threats, which is encouraging acts of violence, including against the Jewish community.“
Mahmood added: “The government has today announced a significant increase in investment to protect our Jewish communities, with record funding for policing and security at synagogues, schools and community centres. And 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. And I can assure everyone that our world-class security services and the police are working, day and night, to keep our country safe.”
Police also said they would review whether marches would go ahead in the coming weeks.
The Stop the War coalition is planning a major demonstration in London on 16 May to mark Nakba Day, commemorating the 1948 displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel.
Asked about marches due to take place in the coming weeks, the head of counter terrorism policing assistant commissioner, Laurence Taylor, said on Thursday: “As part of our review into the change in the threat level, policing will be reviewing all events across the country.
“My teams will be working with forces to ensure that we have appropriate protective security measures in place, that the appropriate mitigations are put in place, and we will be engaged with communities who will be affected by large events, as well as those involved in the events, so that we can keep them safe as they can be.”
Asked if marches will go ahead, he added: “At this stage that is part of the work that police forces will be reviewing.”
