LONDON, Jan 23 : The threat of a terrorist attack has been raised to “severe” amid fears that al-Qaeda is planning a wave of attacks following the Detroit bombings.
The decision follows analysis by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), a unit within MI5, and indicates an attack is now "highly likely.”
It was made following briefings to the Prime Minister by the heads of the security services MI5, MI6 and GCHQ and a meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergency committee.
The move comes as foreign ministers are preparing to meet in London next week to discuss the threat of terrorism in Yemen and Afghanistan.
Those present will include Hamid Karzai, the Afghan President, Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Sources said the Detroit attack on Christmas Day, which demonstrated a new methodology and increased threat, was “one of the factors” but said the decision is taken after looking at intelligence “in the round.”
MI5 is watching around 2,000 individuals across Britain although the activity among domestic extremists is not thought to have risen significantly in recent months.
Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary said: “I should stress that there is no intelligence to suggest than an attack is imminent.
“JTAC keeps the threat level under constant review makes its judgments based on a broad range of factors, including the intent and capabilities of international terrorist groups in the UK and overseas.
Gordon Brown warned earlier this week that “a number of terrorist cells are actively trying to attack Britain and other countries.” His speech to the House of Commons came after he received a briefing on the latest intelligence at a meeting of the Cabinet’s National Security Committee. INP
The decision follows analysis by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), a unit within MI5, and indicates an attack is now "highly likely.”
It was made following briefings to the Prime Minister by the heads of the security services MI5, MI6 and GCHQ and a meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergency committee.
The move comes as foreign ministers are preparing to meet in London next week to discuss the threat of terrorism in Yemen and Afghanistan.
Those present will include Hamid Karzai, the Afghan President, Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Sources said the Detroit attack on Christmas Day, which demonstrated a new methodology and increased threat, was “one of the factors” but said the decision is taken after looking at intelligence “in the round.”
MI5 is watching around 2,000 individuals across Britain although the activity among domestic extremists is not thought to have risen significantly in recent months.
Alan Johnson, the Home Secretary said: “I should stress that there is no intelligence to suggest than an attack is imminent.
“JTAC keeps the threat level under constant review makes its judgments based on a broad range of factors, including the intent and capabilities of international terrorist groups in the UK and overseas.
Gordon Brown warned earlier this week that “a number of terrorist cells are actively trying to attack Britain and other countries.” His speech to the House of Commons came after he received a briefing on the latest intelligence at a meeting of the Cabinet’s National Security Committee. INP
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