The UK’s national terror threat level has been raised from “substantial” to “severe” after recent antisemitic stabbings in north-west London, meaning an attack is considered highly likely. The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), the intelligence body that informs the security services, said the upgrade was not solely in response to the Golders Green incident, but reflected a longer-term rise in threats from both Islamist and extreme right-wing individuals and small groups based in the UK.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the increase will be worrying, particularly for the Jewish community, and announced a major boost in funding for policing and security at synagogues, schools and community centres. “We will do everything in our power to rid society of the evil of antisemitism,” she said, urging the public to be vigilant and to report any concerns to police.
Under the UK’s five-point scale, “substantial” means an attack is likely; “severe” means highly likely. Only “critical” is higher, indicating an attack is highly likely in the near term.
The move follows the stabbing of two Jewish men aged 76 and 34 in Golders Green. A 45-year-old British man born in Somalia was arrested at the scene and remains in custody.
