New Terror Attack Alert System for UK

In a move that echoed the Homeland Security Department`s updated terror threat warning system created after the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland launched a new security alert system for the country, ranking the current terrorist threat to the country as "severe" and saying an attack was highly likely. On July 7, 2005, homegrown Islamic suicide bombers struck at Tube stations and on a double-decker bus, killing 52 people in London.

This week was the first time the government had published such information about a new warning system. Until now, it has argued that doing so would cause unnecessary alarm. Faced with growing criticism that it was failing to spell out explicitly the threat from Islamic terrorist groups like al-Qaeda, the British government decided to follow the lead of other countries such as the United States and introduce a graded alert system.

The Terror Threat Level indicator in America has sometimes been the subject of some ridicule, and can be found on the news tickers at the bottom of the screen while watching CNN or Fox News. Back in Britain, the threat level was posted on an Intelligence website and on the Home Office and Security Service sites. Analysts in the UK say the decision to publish the existence of the new system is part of a concerted effort by the government and also by MI5 and MI6 to be seen as more accountable and prepared.

                                 

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