International Law

Terrorism Threat Level = SEVERE - what is anyone doing any different from before ?

Yesterday the Security Service MI5, dutifully alerted us via email, that the Terrorism Threat Level had been reduceda notch from SEVERE to only SUBSTANTIAL

Current threat level

The current threat level is assessed as SUBSTANTIAL (as of 20th July 2009 - see threat level history for previous changes).

This means there is a high likelihood of future terrorist attacks and indicates a continuing high level of threat to the UK.

See The UK's threat level system for more information on what threat levels mean, who decides the level of threat and how the threat level system is used.

The Government continues to maintain a state of heightened readiness in response to the threat from international terrorism. It remains the Government's policy to issue warnings or advice if this ever became necessary to protect public safety in the event of a specific and credible terrorist threat.

Source and form of the threat

The threat of international terrorism comes from a diverse range of sources, including Al Qaida and associated networks, and those who share Al Qaida's ideology but do not have direct contact with them. A threat could manifest itself from a lone individual or group, rather than a larger network. Domestic terrorism related to Northern Ireland, principally from dissident Irish Republican and Loyalist terrorist groups, also remains a threat.

The terrorist threat can take a number of forms, as terrorists may use a variety of methods of attack to achieve their objectives. These may include explosive devices, firearms, missiles, kidnapping, infiltration and electronic attacks. See the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) (new window) website for practical advice on how to defend against these threats.

This page has been produced in consultation with the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). It will be regularly reviewed and updated. Whilst every care has been taken in preparing this summary, the Security Service accepts no liability for any statement contained therein (see our Content Disclaimer).

What exactly is anyone doing now , which is any different from before ?

The general public is still being told to Obey and Report Anything Suspicious, as always..

MI5 and the terrorists are unlikely to be doing anything different from normal either.

Note the importance given to the Content Disclaimer !

MI5 Security Service senior management officials appear to be trying to cover themselves legally, from any blame (or lawsuits) arising from any failures on their part:

Security Advice disclaimer

The Security Service shall have no liability to any person for the accuracy or contents of the security advice published on this website. The Security Service assumes no responsibility to any person. No warranties are given. No liability is accepted for any inclusion or omission herefrom or the absence of any other information or matter. Furthermore, no liability or responsibility is accepted for any further advice given or omission to give further advice, prior to or subsequent to the advice published on this website.

The MI5 Security Service website now sports an RSS syndication feed for News and Updates, with little buttons to spread the News items to Digg, de.licio.us, Reddit and Stumbleupon

All very "Social Networking" aware, however the actual feed

https://www.mi5.gov.uk/upload/rss.xml

does not include any mention of the change to the Terrorism Threat Level.

Full post as published by Spy Blog on July 21, 2009 (boomark / email).