Government warns further terror attacks imminent

The military has now been deployed to protect key sites as a result of the new threat level. The news comes less than 24 hours after ISIS took credit for the suicide bombing attack that killed 22 people at the Manchester Arena. The bomber has been named as British national Salman Abed who was a student at the University of Salford. 

Prime Minister Theresa May announced that she has raised the threat level after a second COBRA meeting. She said: “The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) 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.

“The change in the threat level means that there will be additional resources and support made available to the police as they work to keep us all safe.

“As a result of the JTAC’s decision, the police have asked for authorisation from the Secretary of State for Defence to deploy a number of armed military personnel in support of their armed officers. This request is part of a well-established plan, known as Operation Temperer, in which both the armed forces and the police officers involved are well-trained and well-prepared to work in this kind of environment. The Secretary of State for Defence has approved this request, and Operation Temperer is now in force.

“This means that armed police officers responsible for duties such as guarding key sites will be replaced by members of the armed forces, which will allow the police to significantly increase the number of armed officers on patrol in key locations. You might also see military personnel deployed at certain events, such as concerts and sports matches, helping the police to keep the public safe. In all circumstances, members of the armed forces who are deployed in this way will be under the command of police officers.

“I do not want the public to feel unduly alarmed. We have faced a serious terrorist threat in our country for many years. And the operational response I have just outlined is a proportionate and sensible response to the threat that our security experts judge we face. I ask everybody to be vigilant, and to cooperate with and support the police as they go about their important work.

“We will take every measure available to us and provide every additional resource we can to the police and the security services as they work to protect the public.

“And while we mourn the victims of this appalling attack, we stand defiant. The spirit of Manchester - and the spirit of Britain - is far mightier than the sick plots of depraved terrorists. That is why the terrorists will never win, and we will prevail."