Threat level for Northern Ireland related terrorism in Northern Ireland reduced to SUBSTANTIAL

Published date: 06 Mar 2024

MI5 has lowered the terrorism threat level for Northern Ireland related terrorism in Northern Ireland from 'SEVERE' to 'SUBSTANTIAL'.

This means an attack is 'likely'.

Announcing the change to Parliament today, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said:

"This positive step reflects the commitment of communities from across Northern Ireland to build a safer place to live and work.

"As ever, the public should remain vigilant and report any concerns they may have to the police.

"There remains a small group of people determined to destabilise the political settlement in Northern Ireland through acts of terrorism."

MI5, alongside our partners, will continue to work around the clock to investigate and disrupt terrorism in all its forms, as part of our mission to keep the country safe.

Find out more about terrorism threat levels.  

Threat level to Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland-related terrorism raised to SEVERE

Published date: 28 Mar 2023

Today, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland informed Parliament that MI5 has raised the terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland-related terrorism to SEVERE. This means an attack is considered to be highly likely. 

In his statement he said:

The threat level to Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism is constantly monitored and is subject to a regular formal review. This is a systematic, comprehensive and rigorous process, based on the very latest intelligence and analysis of factors which drive the threat. The threat level review takes into account a range of factors and analysis of recent incidents.

Further information about terrorism threat levels is available on our threat levels page. Advice about how you can protect your organisation from national security threats is available from the National Protective Security Authority, which is part of MI5.

Threat level to Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism lowered to SUBSTANTIAL

Published date: 22 Mar 2022

Today, MI5 has lowered the threat level to Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism (NIRT) from 'SEVERE' to 'SUBSTANTIAL'. 

The change reflects the assessment that the threat to Northern Ireland from NIRT has reduced. This is the first time that this threat level has been lowered since it was initially published in 2010. 

The move to SUBSTANTIAL however means that an attack is still 'likely' and may occur without further warning.

The Northern Ireland Secretary said in a statement: 

The fact that the threat level is being lowered from where it has been since September 2010 is a testament to the Government’s ongoing commitment to protecting the peace process and tackling Northern Ireland-related terrorism, as well as the tremendous efforts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and MI5 for their hard won gains over the past decade that have helped to make Northern Ireland a safer place to live and work.

Despite the change in the threat level, terrorism remains one of the most direct and immediate risks to our National Security and to communities in Northern Ireland. There remains a small group of people determined to destabilise the political settlement in Northern Ireland through acts of terrorism.

MI5, alongside our partners, will continue to work around the clock to tackle the threat from terrorism in all its forms, in our mission to keep the country safe. 

See the threat levels page for more information.

Threat level to GB from Northern Ireland-related terrorism lowered to MODERATE

Published date: 01 Mar 2018

MI5 has reduced the threat level to Great Britain from Northern Ireland-related terrorism from SUBSTANTIAL to MODERATE. This means that a terrorist attack is possible, but not likely.

In a written statement to Parliament, the Home Secretary Amber Rudd said:

Despite the change which has been made today, there remains a real and serious threat against the United Kingdom from terrorism and I would ask the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police regardless of the threat level.

The decision to change this threat level is taken by the Security Service independently of Ministers and is based on the very latest intelligence, considering factors such as capability, intent and timescale. Threat levels are kept under constant review.

The threat level to the UK from international terrorism remains at SEVERE, and the threat level to Northern Ireland from Northern Ireland-related terrorism also remains at SEVERE meaning that an attack is highly likely.

Threat level to the UK from international terrorism lowered to SEVERE

Published date: 17 Sep 2017

Threat level to the UK from international terrorism lowered to SEVERE.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has changed the UK threat level from international terrorism from CRITICAL to SEVERE.

The current threat level means an attack is highly likely. 

The Home Secretary Amber Rudd said in a statement this afternoon:

Following the terrorist attack in Parsons Green last Friday, the police have made good progress with what is an ongoing operation.

The Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre, which reviews the threat level that the UK is under, have decided to lower that level from critical to severe.

Now severe still means than an attack is highly likely so I would urge everybody to continue to be vigilant but not alarmed.

As the Prime Minister said last Friday, the military were called to support the police so that armed police officers could have a greater presence on our transport network and on our streets.

During the next few days the military will return to their original positions and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work and also the police, the security services and the emergency services who did such a fantastic job combating what was done to Parsons Green on Friday.

Read more about threat levels.

Threat level to the UK from international terrorism raised to CRITICAL

Published date: 15 Sep 2017

Threat level to the UK from international terrorism raised to CRITICAL.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has changed the UK threat level from international terrorism from SEVERE to CRITICAL.

The current threat level means an attack is expected imminently. 

The Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement this evening:

I have just been updated on the investigation into this morning’s cowardly terrorist attack in London.

A major covert and overt investigation is taking place, involving police and security officials.

I said earlier today that the national threat level was being kept under review.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre – that’s the independent organisation which is responsible for setting the threat level on the basis of available intelligence – has now decided to raise the national  threat level from SEVERE to CRITICAL.

This means that their assessment is that a further attack may be imminent.

Following JTAC’s decision, the police have asked for authorisation from the Secretary of State for Defence to enact part of the first phase of Operation TEMPERER.

This is a well-established plan to provide military support to the police and for this period military personnel will replace police officers on guard at certain protected sites which are not accessible to the public. The public will see more armed police on the transport network and on our streets providing extra protection.

This is a proportionate and sensible step which will provide extra reassurance and protection while the investigation progresses.

The public should go about their business in the normal way and as usual be vigilant and co-operate with the police.

I said earlier that terrorism is a great challenge of our times. But, by standing together, we will defeat it.

Read more about threat levels.

Threat level to the UK from international terrorism lowered to SEVERE

Published date: 27 May 2017

Threat level to the UK from international terrorism is lowered to SEVERE.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has changed the UK threat level from international terrorism from CRITICAL to SEVERE. The current threat level means an attack is highly likely. 

The threat level had been raised to CRITICAL on Tuesday in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Manchester.

The Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement this morning:

"I have just chaired a meeting of COBRa, where I was updated by the police and security services on the investigation into Monday's terrible attack in Manchester.

"A significant amount of police activity has taken place over the past 24-hours and there are now 11 suspects in custody.

"In light of these developments, JTAC - the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre - has this morning taken the decision to reduce the threat level from critical to severe.

"The public should be clear about what this means. A threat level of severe means that an attack is highly likely. The country should remain vigilant."

Read more about threat levels.

- See more at: https://www.mi5.gov.uk/news/threat-level-to-the-uk-from-international-terrorism-raised-to-critical

Threat level to the UK from international terrorism raised to CRITICAL

Published date: 23 May 2017

Threat level to the UK from international terrorism raised to CRITICAL.

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has changed the UK threat level from international terrorism from SEVERE to CRITICAL.

The current threat level means an attack is expected imminently. 

The Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement this evening:

"... The work undertaken throughout the day has revealed that it is a possibility we cannot ignore that there is a wider group of individuals linked to this attack. This morning, I said that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre - the independent organisation responsible for setting the threat level on the basis of the intelligence available - was keeping the threat level under constant review. It has now concluded, on the basis of today's investigations, that the threat level should be increased, for the time being, from SEVERE to CRITICAL. This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely, but that a further attack may be imminent."

Read more about threat levels.

Threat level to the UK from international terrorism raised to SEVERE

Published date: 29 Aug 2014

Threat level to the UK from international terrorism raised to SEVERE 

The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) has changed the UK threat level from international terrorism from SUBSTANTIAL to SEVERE. 

The current threat level means that the threat of a terrorist attack is considered to be highly likely.

The Home Secretary said in a statement:

"JTAC has today raised the threat to the UK from international terrorism from SUBSTANITIAL to SEVERE. This means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, although there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is imminent."

For more information on the change of the threat level, see the Home Office's press release.

Read more about threat levels under "What we do".