Brexit news: Britain raises terror threat to severe, and UK misses EU deadline
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Your support makes all the difference.The UK’s terrorism threat level has been raised to severe, meaning that an attack is judged to be highly likely.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (Jtac) made the assessment following a spate of attacks in France and the shooting rampage by an Isis supporter in Vienna.
Priti Patel, the UK home secretary, said it was a “precautionary measure” that was “not based on a specific threat”.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson is facing further legal action from the EU after he missed a deadline to explain why he is planning to break international law over Northern Ireland.
Speaking on Tuesday, a European Commission spokesperson said: “We sent a letter of formal notice on 1 October to the UK for breaching its obligations under the withdrawal agreement. As you know it had until the end of the month to submit its observations to that letter.”
They added: "To date I can confirm that the EU has received no reply from the UK, therefore we are considering next steps, including issuing a reasoned opinion [of the European Court of Justice]."
Priti Patel says change not based on specific threat
The UK home secretary has also said the new terror threat level is a precautionary measure.
The change from ‘substantial’ to ‘severe’ - meaning attacks are highly likely - is not based on any specific threat, she said.
Here’s her tweet on the new threat level:
‘This decision should not cause undue alarm’
Speaking about the change to the UK’s terror threat level, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, said:
"This decision should not cause undue alarm but shows the importance of people continuing to be vigilant.
"Any suspicious activity should be reported to the police or the anti-terrorism hotline.
"We are grateful for the work of the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, our security services and our counter-terror policing who continue to carry out vital work to keep us safe."
Additional reporting by PA
Explanation: UK terror threat level
The UK has raised its terror threat level from "substantial” to “severe”, which means authorities believe an attack on the territory is highly likely.
“Severe” is the second-highest option behind “critical”, which means an attack is expected imminently.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) decides on the level and reviews it every six months, but does not always raise it following attacks.
JTAC considered increasing the level to “severe” just weeks after the downgrading in November 2019 after the London Bridge Fishmongers' Hall attack but kept it at “substantial” - which means an attack is a strong possibility.
Additional reporting by PA
Europe attacks
The UK has raised its terror threat level, following recent attacks in France and Austria.
These include:
Vienna
At least five people died after gunmen - who Austrian police believe had an Islamist motive - went on a shooting spree in the capital on Monday evening.
Manhunt in Vienna after ‘Islamist terrorist’ attack leaves five dead
At least 17 people have been injured in the shootout
Nice
A woman was beheaded and two others killed in a knife attack in a Nice church in late October.
Macron vows to deploy soldiers across France after attacks in Nice and Avignon
Police confirm to The Independent two women and one man killed
Paris suburbs
Samuel Paty - a teacher who had shown caricatures of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad to students during a lesson - was beheaded outside his school in October.
Teacher ‘beheaded’ near Paris in suspected terror attack, police say
Suspect shot dead minutes after attack in town of Conflans-Sainte-Honorine
EU confirms UK misses deadline
Here’s a reminder of a key development in Brexit news today, which saw the EU say Boris Johnson has missed his deadline to explain why he is planning to break international law over Northern Ireland.
Jon Stone reports:
Boris Johnson misses EU deadline to explain breach of international law
Prime minister wants to overwrite parts of treaty he agreed at beginning of the year
‘People should be alert’
The Home Office have tweeted about the terror threat level being raised to “severe”.
“People should be alert but not alarmed,” the department said.
Sadiq Khan on new threat level
Speaking about the “severe” terror threat level, Sadiq Khan has urged Londoners to “remain vigilant, to be alert but not alarmed, and report anything suspicious to the police”.
Here’s the full statement from the UK’s head of counter terrorism policing on the terror threat level being raised:
UK threat level increases to SEVERE | Counter Terrorism Policing
Statement from Head of CT Policing, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu regarding the increased threat level in the UK.
Ban on demonstrations
In other news, demonstrations of more than two people are to be banned during the month-long lockdown in England.
Ministers removed an exemption that has allowed protests to take place in recent months.
Full story:
Priti Patel bans demonstrations during England lockdown
‘People must follow the rules on meeting with others, which apply to all gatherings and therefore protests too,’ says Home Office
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