Terrorism threat level raised after Liverpool hospital taxi explosion

The UK’s terrorism threat level has been raised after two attacks in the space of a month.

It is now listed as “severe”, which means an attack is “highly likely”.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the terror threat level had been raised because there had been two attacks in the space of a month.

Speaking to broadcasters, she said: “The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, Jtac, are now increasing the United Kingdom’s threat level from substantial to severe.

“And there’s a reason for that, and that reason is because what we saw yesterday is the second incident in a month.”

The Home Secretary said the attack had had a “very significant impact across the community” in Liverpool and her thoughts were with people in the city.

Priti Patel told broadcasters: “Alongside that, I want to give my personal thanks, and the thanks of the Government, to our emergency services, the police in particular. I’ve been in touch with the Chief Constable, other emergency service workers as well, and our armed forces who’ve been part of the operational work that’s on the ground.

“Now, of course, that means we continue to work with our world-class security, intelligence and policing services.

“There’s a live investigation taking place right now. They will need the time, the space, to do the work that they are doing in terms of investigating the incident.

“But of course, we as a Government, I as Home Secretary, continue to work with everyone when it comes to the security of our country and making sure that we’re taking all the necessary steps required.”

Priti Patel said the “context” of there being two terrorist incidents in the space of a month was “really important”.

The Home Secretary told broadcasters she could not expand “for obvious reasons”, but added: “I should just conclude my remarks by saying that our security and intelligence services prevent all sorts of acts, day in, day out.

“And of course, they understand the landscape, they see context, they see all sorts of things that keep our country safe and secure every single day and that work will continue.”

Official sources have said the decision to raise the terror threat level should not be taken as an indication of any further specific live threat.

Counter-terror police previously warned of the dangers of more people potentially becoming radicalised during the coronavirus lockdowns while spending more time online.

Although officers in charge of this probe have so far said the motive behind the attack is unclear.