The UK terrorism threat level is set to go up in the wake of the double stabbings in Golders Green, the Mail has learnt.
Officials are expected to announce later today that the threat to the UK from all forms of terrorism will move from ‘substantial’ to ‘severe’, meaning an attack is now highly likely.
The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) is expected to announce that it has taken the decision to raise the level after a series of attacks on the Jewish community in recent weeks, culminating in the double stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green yesterday.
The threat level was last assessed as severe in November 2021 following the Liverpool Women’s Hospital bombing when a failed asylum seeker detonated an improvised explosive device killing himself and injuring a taxi driver.
In February 2022 independent JTAC experts decided to lower the terror threat to ‘substantial’, meaning an attack is likely.
The threat level has not changed for the last four years, despite a series of terrorist incidents.
The Mail understands that the JTAC decision will be formally announced by the Home Secretary this afternoon.
Shabana Mahmood is set to make a statement setting out the reasons why it is necessary to upgrade the terrorism threat level, following concerns that the level of anti-Semitism in Britain has become a ‘national emergency’.
Police had to taser the knifeman in Golders Green after two Jewish people were stabbed in the terror attack. Both are now in a stable condition
The news comes as the suspect in the Golders Green terror attack is still being quizzed in custody on suspicion of attempted murder.
The government outlines five different terror attack threat levels. The move to ‘severe’ is the second highest and means ‘an attack is highly likely’.
The only level above is known as ‘critical’, which means ‘an attack is highly likely in the near future’.
The JTAC work with MI5 in setting the threat levels which are regularly reviewed. They are set based on available intelligence on terrorist capability, terrorist intentions and the timescale of the likelihood of the next attack.
Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76, were allegedly stabbed by the knifeman but are now in a stable condition after being rushed to hospital. The attacker is also alleged to have tried to stab another man in his rampage in north London.
The reaction of politicians has been met with anger Keir Starmer was booed when he visited the scene at Golders Green today.
Crowds heckled the Prime Minister as he went past with chants of ‘Keir Starmer, Jew harmer’ and ‘traitor’ being struck up.
Fellow Left-winger, Green Party leader Zack Polanski was also slated for retweeting a post suggesting hero policemen who disarmed the terror suspect after he knifed two Jews had been too heavy-handed.
Today Mr Rand spoke from his hospital bed to reveal how he had been stabbed in the chest and claimed it is a ‘miracle’ he is alive.
But he also alleged that Sir Keir Starmer and his administration is ‘not doing its job’ to protect Jewish people in the UK, who he says are ‘afraid’ and ‘uncomfortable walking in the street’.
Asked whether he felt let down by the Government, he said ‘definitely’.
He said: ‘The Government, they are the ones that are able to take care of the problems. And they are not doing their job.
‘People are really concerned, people are afraid, people are uncomfortable walking in the street, people are blaming obviously the government for not doing anything about what’s going on.’
