MI5 terror threat warning level raised to 'critical'
{{date|June 30, 2007}}

{{QuoteRight|I can confirm that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has raised the national threat level to critical. This is in response to the events of the last 48 hours.|4=Home Secretary Jacqui Smith}}

The [[United Kingdom|United Kingdom's]] [[w:Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre|Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre]] (JTAC), a division of the security agency [[w:MI5|MI5]], has raised its threat level to critical. Critical denotes that a terrorist attack is expected imminently. The threat is noted as being from [[w:Al-Qaida|al-Qaida]], groups associated with al-Qaida, and other Islamic extremists. The change was made as a result of an earlier incident where a burning jeep drove into Glasgow Airport, which has been linked to the attempted London car bombings of the previous day.

MI5 also indicated that, although the threat comes principally from al-Qaida and related networks, Northern Ireland-related terrorism remains a threat.

In a press release Saturday, [[w:Home Secretary|Home Secretary]] [[w:Jacqui Smith|Jacqui Smith]] said, "I can confirm that JTAC has raised the national threat level to critical. This is in response to the events of the last 48 hours. Critical is the highest level of threat, and the threat level will be closely reviewed on a regular basis. Appropriate security measures have been put in place."

A terror alert system was set up by the UK government to keep the public informed about the level of threat to the UK from terrorism. According to the Home Office, the likelihood of a terrorist attack taking place in the UK is identified in following threat levels:

*critical - an attack is expected imminently 
*severe - an attack is highly likely
*substantial - an attack is a strong possibility
*moderate - an attack is possible but not likely
*low - an attack is unlikely

==Related news==
*{{Wikinews|title=Car driven into Glasgow International Airport|date=June 30, 2007}}
*{{Wikinews|title=Car bomb defused in central London|date=June 29, 2007}}

==Sources==
*{{source-pr|url=http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_069036
|title=Latest news on the car bombs
|pub=UK Government
|date=June 30, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/06/30/london.alert/index.html
|title=U.K. terror alert level 'critical'
|author=
|pub=CNN
|date=June 30, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6257846.stm
|title=Airport alert 'was terrorist attack'
|author=
|pub=BBC News
|date=June 30, 2007}} 

==External links==
*[http://www.mi5.gov.uk/output/Page311.html Threat levels from MI5 website.]

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[[Category:Scotland]]
[[Category:United Kingdom]]
[[Category:London]]
[[Category:England]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Aviation]]
[[Category:Disasters and accidents]]
[[Category:Jacqui Smith]]
[[Category:Terrorism alerts]]
[[Category:MI5]]
The United Kingdom's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), a division of the security agency MI5, has raised its threat level to critical. Critical denotes that a terrorist attack is expected imminently. The threat is noted as being from al-Qaida, groups associated with al-Qaida, and other Islamic extremists. The change was made as a result of an earlier incident where a burning jeep drove into Glasgow Airport, which has been linked to the attempted London car bombings of the previous day.

MI5 also indicated that, although the threat comes principally from al-Qaida and related networks, Northern Ireland-related terrorism remains a threat.

In a press release Saturday, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said, "I can confirm that JTAC has raised the national threat level to critical. This is in response to the events of the last 48 hours. Critical is the highest level of threat, and the threat level will be closely reviewed on a regular basis. Appropriate security measures have been put in place."

A terror alert system was set up by the UK government to keep the public informed about the level of threat to the UK from terrorism. According to the Home Office, the likelihood of a terrorist attack taking place in the UK is identified in following threat levels:

*critical - an attack is expected imminently 
*severe - an attack is highly likely
*substantial - an attack is a strong possibility
*moderate - an attack is possible but not likely
*low - an attack is unlikely
Scotland United Kingdom London England Crime and law Aviation Disasters and accidents Jacqui Smith Terrorism alerts MI5