London: The British government raised its threat level on Friday evening from substantial to severe, meaning an attack is "highly likely", Home Secretary Alan Johnson said.
He said that despite the raised threat level, there was no intelligence to suggest an attack was imminent.
"The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has today raised the threat to the UK from international terrorism from substantial to severe," he said. "This means that a terrorist attack is highly likely, but I should stress that there is no intelligence to suggest than an attack is imminent."
He said the centre made its judgements "based on a broad range of factors, including the intent and capabilities of international terrorist groups in the UK and overseas."
US officials said the new British threat level was now the same as it is in the US. The current US threat level is "high", for all domestic and international flights. "High" is the next highest threat level, under "severe".
London is preparing to host two major international conferences next week: a donor gathering on contributions and support for Yemen as it fights terrorism Wednesday; and a conference on the way forward in Afghanistan on Thursday.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, January 23, 2010, 10:38