US warns citizens in UK after terror threat raised to 'severe'

The US embassy in London issued a security alert on October 18, urging American citizens in the UK to exercise caution after the British government raised the national terror threat level to 'severe'.

The warning advised US citizens to 'be vigilant in public places' and avoid schools, churches, tourist sites and transport hubs. The embassy also called for altering 'travel routes and times' to reduce the risk of being tracked, while maintaining a low profile.

Britain's domestic intelligence agency MI5 said the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) had raised the threat level from 'substantial' to 'severe', the second-highest tier, indicating an attack within the next six months is 'highly likely'.

MI5 said the UK has experienced a gradual increase in terrorist threats over a period. The threat level was raised after the stabbing of two Jewish men in the Golders Green area of London on October 16, though it was not solely due to that incident.

MI5 stressed that the heightened danger 'is being driven by a resurgence of both Islamist and extreme right-wing terrorism threats from individuals and small groups in the UK', with particularly targeting of 'Jewish and Israeli individuals and institutions in the context of the Middle East conflict'.

This is the second security warning from the US embassy in the UK in recent weeks. Previously, the embassy issued a statement noting attacks and threats 'targeting Jewish and American institutions' and advised citizens to be cautious. Last week, Finchley Reform Synagogue in north London was targeted, along with an attack on Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow.