UK raises its terror threat level to `severe'

[Mary]

Britain raised its terror threat alert to the second-highest level Friday, one of several recent moves the country has made to increase vigilance against international terrorists after a Christmas Day bombing attempt on a Europe-U.S. flight.

 

The threat level was raised from "substantial" ? where it had stood since July to indicate a strong possibility of a terrorist attack ? to "severe," meaning such an attack is considered highly likely.

 

In making the announcement, Home Secretary Alan Johnson said the raised security level means that Britain is heightening its vigilance. But he stressed that there was no intelligence suggesting an attack is imminent.

 

"The highest security alert is `critical,' and that means an attack is imminent, and we are not at that level," he said on British television

Something is up?

[LarryLightweight]

"Strong Possibility", "Highly Likely" and "Imminent"....could not all these phrases be re-worded to mean the same thing, that an attack is going to come but they dont know when?

 

Seeing as they dont know where or when but it will probably come one day...shouldnt we be permanently on critical, ever vigilant etc?

[asperity]

A General Election is imminent?

[LymmParent]

If there is no intelligence to suggest anything is brewing, what's the basis for raising the threat level? "Blimey lads, it's been quiet this week, we must be in for something soon"?

[Peter T]

If there is no intelligence to suggest anything is brewing, what's the basis for raising the threat level? "Blimey lads, it's been quiet this week, we must be in for something soon"?

 

Sounds about right!!!