After the Home Secretary announced that the UK’s Terrorist Threat Level had risen from substantial to severe, Police Scotland have reassured Scots that there is ‘no specific threat’ to the country.
Following two terrorist attacks in the space of a month, Priti Patel said that the UK’s terrorist threat level is now listed as “severe”, which means an attack is “highly likely”.
The threat level had been lowered to “substantial” in February, meaning an attack is “likely”, after being raised to severe in November last year.
It comes after the car explosion outside a Liverpool hospital on Remembrance Sunday and the attack of Conservative MP Sir David Amess which resulted in his death.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) and MI5 are responsible for setting the international and domestic threat levels respectively, taking into account available intelligence, terrorist intentions and capability as well as potential timescales for attacks.
Today, Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable, Mark Williams urged Scots to ‘not be alarmed, but to remain vigilant’.
He said: “This afternoon the Home Secretary announced an increase in the UK’s Terrorist Threat Level from Substantial to Severe, meaning an attack is now deemed to be highly likely.
"The decision has been made following two recent incidents declared as terrorism – the murder of Sir David Amess MP in October and the incident we saw take place in Liverpool yesterday.
"While the terrorist threat in the UK is diverse, volatile and complex, I would stress at this time there is nothing to suggest there is any specific threat to Scotland.
"I do want to take this opportunity to remind the public not to be alarmed, but to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to Police Scotland."
Police Scotland can be contacted on 101 or in an emergency you should always dial 999.
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