Terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland lowered to substantial

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis has announced that the Northern Ireland-related Terrorism threat level in Northern Ireland has been lowered from Severe to Substantial.

The decision to change the threat level, which is subject to continuous review, has been taken by MI5, independently of government ministers. It marks the first time that the threat level in Northern Ireland has changed in 12 years.

Substantial means that a terrorist attack is likely and might well occur without further warning.

Lewis said: “This is the first time the threat level in Northern Ireland has changed since 2010 and shows the significant progress that Northern Ireland has made, and continues to make, towards a more peaceful, more prosperous and safer society.

“It is a testament to the ongoing commitment to protecting the peace process and tackling Northern Ireland-related terrorism, and the tremendous efforts of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and MI5 for their hard won gains over the past decade. However, it is not a time for complacency. There is still a minority who wish to cause harm in Northern Ireland. As ever, the public should remain vigilant and report any concerns they may have to the police.”