Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Alan Johnston: "The number one job of the government is to keep the public safe" The UK terror threat level is being raised from "substantial" to "severe", Home Secretary Alan Johnson has said.The new alert level means a terrorist attack is considered "highly likely". It had stood at substantial since July. It is in response to the perceived increased threat from international terrorism following the failed Detroit airliner bombing on Christmas Day. Mr Johnson stressed there was no intelligence to suggest a terrorist attack was imminent. The decision to raise the threat level was made by the UK's Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). THREAT LEVEL SYSTEM Low - attack is unlikely Moderate - attack is possible, but not likely Substantial - attack is a strong possibility Severe - attack is highly likely Critical - attack is expected imminently Timeline: UK threat levels Mr Johnson said JTAC kept the threat level under constant review, making its judgments based on a broad range of factors, including the intent and capabilities of international terrorist groups in the UK and overseas.[Read more...]