Posts Tagged ‘Uk Threat Level’

One of the reasons it is thought that the UK Threat level was raised from substantial to severe is to counter a new and emerging threat.

As we reported a few days ago AQ has gone through a restructure and are arguably more popular than ever in the Muslim world.

It is thought that AQ in Pakistan has the capability to take over an airliner and plan to fly it into a British City. We reported before Christmas how UK intelligence feared a Mumbai style attack on the Capital. AQ does indeed have global reach and despite mutterings to the contrary the UK is a hot breeding ground for fundamentalism.

We have no doubt that Farouk Abdulmutallab (Christmas Day bomber) was radicalised in the UK. We support free speech and of course with such liberal views on free speech is going to mean that suggestive ideas are bound to be aired.

We in no way advocate the damping down of freedom of speech but we certainly advocate the message to the masses that terrorism is and remains a very real risk and we ALL should be playing our part.

Vigilance is key to our safety. The Security Services have and do do a magnificent job but they also rely on low level intelligence, what's happening on your street that is unusual? Are you concerned about something that you have heard or witnessed?

We are very good and overriding our better judgement and trying to make sense of what we have seen or heard but if we take stock and report our fears it may just avert an attack.

The way AQ operate, especially in Europe and other developed Countries is to recruit people who are not on Security Service radar and so don't arouse suspicion.

The only way of combatting this is the vigilance of the masses. Many people don't think they or their businesses would be terrorist targets. What is a terrorist target? In the case of AQ any business and anybody is a target so burying heads in sand is a very short sighted and misguided view.

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There are reports that the UK Threat Level was increased due to AQ training a group of female suicide bombers to target western locations.

This comes amid a report that suggests that AQ have restructured and are becoming stronger, able to attack a location anywhere and a time of their choosing.

The US is also aware of the huge support and fertile breeding ground that AQ has in the UK. This comes after reports that Abdulmutallab was radicalised in the UK before going on to attempt detonating a device on an airliner over Detroit on Christmas Day.

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The current UK Threat Level is Substantial.

The Threat is assessed and set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC)

Although the Threat has been reduced from Severe to Substantial JTAC admits that the reduction should have little or no effect on individual business alert states.

The Threat Levels are:

Low
Moderate
Substantial
Severe
Critical

The Response Levels are:

Normal (Low, Moderate Threat)
Heightened (Substantial, Severe Threat)
Exceptional (Critical Threat)

The UK current threat level is assessed as

SUBSTANTIAL

The response level is as your organisation sees fit to be able to meet the Threat.

Website: http://www.mi5.gov.uk/

The UK Terror Threat level has been reduced from Severe to Substantial.

The Home Secretary said this morning that there remained a “real and serious threat” from terrorists and the public would see very little change in security presence and procedures.

The UK had been on Severe since the 04 July 2007, the day after the Glasgow Airport attempted bombings. In the days running up to the Glasgow Airport attacks the UK was on the highest threat level Critical (attack is imminent)

Substantial means that there is a “strong possibility” of attack.

The UK threat level is decided by JTAC (Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre)

The current UK Threat level is Severe.

The response to the threat is Heightened.

Terrorism can be far more than just physical attack – it can take the form of electronic attacks on vital information or communication systems. The US and UK Governments have both recently recognised the threat from electronic attack and plan to prepare accordingly. Both governments have also admitted they have the capability and resources to be able to conduct attacks on their enemies, electronically. If we can do it then so can a host of well motivated funded and resourced organisations and security agencies. Physical and electronic attacks can be carried out, directly or indirectly. Having your premises secure does not totally manage the risk and very often the weakest point in business is its electronic security. Its no good having the best physical security if a potential source of threat does not need to be anywhere near your premises, but in a Foreign Country. With absurd ease, Asperger’s victim Gary McKinnon hacked into Pentagon computers in a bid to prove the existence of little green men. The Americans are attempting extradition to the US to face charges of Cyber Terrorism. If found guilty he could face 60 years in Gaol. This case highlights how easy it can be to gain access to systems that you would assume are impregnable.

The current UK Threat level is Severe and the Response level is Heightened

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The current UK Threat level is Severe and the Response level is Heightened.