The levels above substantial are severe, which means an attack is highly likely, and critical which means an attack is highly likely in the near future. Col Kemp previously urged the Government to raise the threat level to severe as he warned there is an 'immediately increased threat from British jihadists inspired and motivated by events in Afghanistan'. Analysts take a variety of factors into consideration before determining the appropriate threat level for the UK. There are five levels of the terror threat system. The threat level has only been critical twice since 2010 - once in May 2017 for four days and once in September 2017 for two days.

Source: Daily Mail August 30, 2021 00:56 UTC