British Home Secretary Theresa May said on August 29 that the country's terrorist threat risk level has been raised to "severe" in response to possible attacks being planned in Syria and Iraq.
May said the move means that a terrorist attack against Britain is “highly likely."
But she said “there is no intelligence to suggest that an attack is imminent.”
The threat level is now the second highest level out of five possible categories and the highest in Britain since July 2011.
The beheading in Syria of kidnapped U.S. journalist James Foley by a suspected British national has prompted demands for extra security measures against Britons who travel to the Middle East to join militant groups.
It also has raised fears that Britons who’ve fought for Islamists in Syria or Iraq could return to Britain and carry out attacks.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP