Counterterrorism Blog

Sky News reported that: "[t]he country is now at its highest threat level and means an attack is expected 'imminently'. "The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) raised the level in response to the events of the last 48 hours".

BBC News reports that the UK's national terrorism threat level has been raised to "critical", according to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. BBC News stated that "The announcement came after a meeting of the government emergencies committee Cobra, following a burning car being driven into a Glasgow airport terminal. Ministers, police and security service officials began their third meeting in three days at 1900 BST, this time with a video link to ministers in Scotland. Cobra met earlier in the day to discuss the two car bombs found in London."

Sky News reported that "During the [Cobra] meeting, chaired by Gordon Brown, ministers discussed deploying troops at UK airports to counter any further terror attacks."

ABC News notes that "[t]he last time the threat level was raised to critical in the United Kingdom was last August after a liquid bomb plot was foiled." ABC News also states: "Although the threat level "critical" is meant to indicate an attack is imminent, in practice the British appear to have reserved its use for after an attack or attempted attack has already occurred and a follow-up attack is imminent."

UK Prime Minster Gordon Brown said "The first duty of the Government is the security and safety of all the British people. So it's right to raise the levels of security at airports and crowded places. I want all British people to be vigilant and support the police. I know the British people will stand together united, resolute and strong."
-- Sky News Video of Gordon Brown statement

The Guardian reports: "Prime Minister Gordon Brown has warned that the terrorist threat to Britain is 'long-term and sustained' and said that security services and the public will have to remain 'constantly vigilant'. In his first broadcast interview since becoming PM on Wednesday, Mr Brown said it was 'clear' that the attacks in London and Glasgow over the past two days were perpetrated by people who were associated with the global Islamist terror network al Qaida."

ABC News also reports that "counter-terrorism analysts estimate that the apparently coordinated attacks in Great Britain are the work of a sleeper cell that could include as many as 20 individuals." The Sunday London Telegraph states of the efforts of counterterrorism forensics specialists in researched the scenes of the attacks in "Botched London plot leaves 'gold mine' of clues". The Daily Mail reports that "MI5 fear bombers were 'off the radar'".

The London Times reports of potential links to potential terrorists who are known to the police: "Some may be known to police and be on the run after escaping Home Office control orders. Those in the frame may be associates of the so-called Crevice gang, which planned to attack the Ministry of Sound nightclub in central London and the Bluewater shopping mall in Kent. Members of the five-man cell, who were jailed for life in April, were directed by 'core' Al-Qaeda figures after training in terror camps in Pakistan. "

The COBRA emergency group is meeting again on Sunday.

British police are searching house in sweeps in northern England and outside of Glasgow. Reuters reports that "Wearing white plastic bodysuits and face masks, police in Glasgow combed several houses near the airport, in the town of Houston, about six miles west of the city. Neighbors said two Asian men had moved into one of the searched houses, a five minute drive from the airport, about a month ago but had kept very much to themselves."

In addition, there have been the following reports of arrests from the Associated Press:
--- 2 Arrested After Car on Fire Rams Glasgow Terminal
--- Police Arrest 2 More in Connection With London, Scotland Terror Incidents -- two suspects were arrested in Cheshire - in addition to two arrested in Glasgow at airport attack -- Cheshire suspects arrested by a joint swoop by specialist officers from London and Birmingham

Sky News reports on Sunday of the arrest of a 5th suspect in Liverpool. The Manchester Evening News provided a follow-up on the Cheshire arrests and also noted that the Liverpool airport is closed.

Sources:
Sky News: UK At Highest Terror Level After Attack -- and -- Brown: 'Be United, Resolute And Strong'
BBC: UK terror threat now 'critical'
Sky News Video of Gordon Brown statement
ABC News: Brits Raise Terror Alert Level to 'Critical'
ABC News: Sleeper Terror Cell on the Loose in U.K.
AP: 2 Arrested After Car on Fire Rams Glasgow Terminal
AP: Police Arrest 2 More in Connection With London, Scotland Terror Incidents
Sky News: Fifth Terror Arrest In Nationwide Hunt -- in Liverpool
Manchester Evening News: Terror arrests on M6 -- Liverpool airport closed
CNN: Glasgow Terrorist Shouts "Allah" in Fighting Police (my title)
London Guardian: PM warns of 'sustained' terror risk
AFP: New crisis talks over terror threat
Reuters: British police comb houses after airport attack
Daily Mail: MI5 fear bombers were 'off the radar'
London Times: Police check Bluewater gang's links to attempt to bomb clubs