UK raises terror threat level to 'severe'

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) – The terror threat level in the UK on Monday was raised from “substantial” to “severe.”

The decision followed an assessment after Sunday’s blast in Liverpool that killed one person and injured another.

The raise in the threat level decision was taken by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) as an investigation continues into the incident at Liverpool Women’s Hospital.

"The prime minister has this afternoon just chaired a Cobra meeting (high-level national security meeting) and I attended that meeting too – and the points to note from that meeting is that, first of all, the incident has been declared as a terrorist incident, the police have now declared that," said Home Secretary Priti Patel.

"But, secondly, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre – JTAC – are now increasing the United Kingdom's threat level from substantial to severe," she said, confirming the new threat level.

"And there is a reason for that, and that reason is because what we saw yesterday is the second incident in a month," Patel said, also referring to the Oct. 15 murder of Conservative MP David Amess.

Police earlier said they have so far arrested four people in connection to the Liverpool blast.

A taxi burned down following an explosion after it pulled into the hospital at around 11 a.m. local time on Sunday.

Police also said they believe an explosive device was brought to the taxi by the passenger, who died in the incident.

“Remarkably, the taxi driver escaped from the cab, he’s being treated for injuries he sustained and is now released from hospital,” police said, adding that they found “significant items” in raids and searches after the incident.​​​​​​​