Seven late-stage terror plots stopped this past year in the UK, Counter Terrorism Police say

Britain's terror threat level has been raised to severe

Author: Ellis MaddisonPublished 18th Nov 2021
Last updated 18th Nov 2021

The head of Counter Terrorism Police says seven late-stage terror plots have been disrupted in the UK in the past year.

People in London are being told they can expect to see a greater police presence and more armed police patrols after the terror threat level was raised to severe.

The increase in caution comes after the attempted attack on Liverpool Women's Hospital and the fatal stabbing of Sir David Amess.

A severe terror threat level means another attack is highly likely, and Assistant Commissioner for the Metropolitan Police, Matt Jukes, says the public can play their part to help.

He told Sky News: “We know that people have spotted things that have prevented terrorist attacks. So please, trust your instincts, if something doesn’t feel right… make that call."

He also reassured the public that there are plenty of covert investigations going on, and that just because the public may not see it, doesn't mean work isn't being done.

“We’ve got 800 live investigations underway in counter terrorism policing, most of those of course not visible to the public.

"In the last year alone we’ve disrupted 7 late stage attack-planning plots, so there’s an enormous amount of covert policing.

“We will be ensuring that you can see a greater presence of visible police patrolling, armed police patrolling in some of the key locations, and that here in places like London where we have dedicated patrols, they’ll be really focused on those threats.”

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