The UK’s terrorism threat level has been lowered from “severe” to “substantial” after fewer attacks in Europe.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said there had been a “significant reduction” in the threat level since a string of attacks in Europe between September and November.
However, Ms Patel said the public should remain vigilant because a "substantial" threat level meant a terror attack was still likely.
"Terrorism remains one of the most direct and immediate risks to our national security,” she said.
“Substantial continues to indicate a high level of threat, and an attack on the UK is still likely. The public should continue to remain vigilant and report any concerns to the police."
"Severe" is the second-highest of five levels and indicates an attack is "highly likely".
Britain raised the threat level from "substantial" to "severe" at the start of November after four people were killed and dozens wounded in a shooting rampage in Vienna the night before the city went into coronavirus lockdown.
Police in the Austrian capital said the attack was carried out by an extremist who had spent time in prison.
In October, three people were killed in knife attacks in the southern French city of Nice.
It came after an extremist beheaded a teacher in Paris after he showed pupils a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed.
The UK threat level was briefly raised to "critical", the maximum level to indicate an attack is "highly likely in the near future", in May and September 2017.
The moves were in response to conflicts in Syria and Iraq. In the same year extremists carried out attacks in Manchester and London.
It was also raised to "critical" in August 2006 after the security services said they foiled a plot to blow up flights between Britain and the US.
The decision to lower the UK’s threat level was made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre on Thursday last week, Ms Patel said.
The threat level from Northern Ireland-related extremism in the region remains "severe", according to the UK's domestic intelligence service, MI5.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
Quick pearls of wisdom
Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”
Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.”
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
Company%20Profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Ten10 Cricket League
Venue and schedule Sharjah Cricket Stadium, December 14 to 17
Teams
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Bengal Lions Leading player: Sarfraz Ahmed; Top picks: Sunil Narine, Mustafizur Rahman; UAE players: Mohammed Naveed, Rameez Shahzad
Kerala Kings Leading player: Eoin Morgan; Top picks: Kieron Pollard, Sohail Tanvir; UAE players: Rohan Mustafa, Imran Haider
Pakhtoons Leading player: Shahid Afridi; Top picks: Fakhar Zaman, Tamim Iqbal; UAE players: Amjad Javed, Saqlain Haider
Punjabi Legends Leading player: Shoaib Malik; Top picks: Hasan Ali, Chris Jordan; UAE players: Ghulam Shabber, Shareef Asadullah
Team Sri Lanka Cricket Will be made up of Colombo players who won island’s domestic limited-overs competition
