The United Kingdom today raised its
terror alert to "severe" in response to ISIS activity in Iraq and Syria.
"What we're facing in Iraq now with ISIL is a deeper and greater threat to our security than we have known before," U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said in a news conference from 10 Downing Street, referring to the Islamic State by its former name, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. "With ISIL, we are facing a terrorist organization not being hosted in a country but actually seeking to establish and violently expand its own terrorist state," he added. There is no specific threat or information suggesting that an attack is imminent, Home Secretary Theresa May said, however, the "severe" threat level indicates a terrorist attack is "highly likely." Severe is the second-highest of five possible threat levels. The U.S. threat level remains elevated.
According to UK intelligence, about 500 Brits have traveled to the Middle East to join ISIS militants.
Labels: Britain, Iraq, ISIS, Syria, terrorism
