London [UK], May 1: The UK terrorism threat level has been raised to "severe" following the Golders Green stabbings of two Jewish men, meaning a terror attack is "highly likely." The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre announced the decision on Thursday, the day after two Jewish men were stabbed in north London and in the wake of a spate of attacks in Jewish neighbourhoods in recent weeks.
The agency, which is based in MI5 but makes independent assessments, previously set the threat level at "substantial," meaning an attack was "likely." It comes as police confirmed the suspect in Wednesday's attack had previously been reported to Prevent, the government's anti-extremism programme, and Prime Minister Keir Starmer was heckled when he visited the scene on Thursday.
The 45-year-old British national was born in Somalia and came to the UK legally as a child in the 1990s, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the suspect was referred to Prevent in 2020 but the case was closed the same year.
Source: Qatar Tribune
