The British government raised the National Threat Level from “substantial” to “severe” after an explosion in Liverpool resulted in one death and one injury.
On Sunday, which coincided with Remembrance Day, a terror incident caused an explosion in a taxi outside the Liverpool Women’s Hospital that resulted in the death of a passenger who was attempting to orchestrate an attack at the hospital. Authorities subsequently arrested four people over their alleged role in the attack. However, police said that the motivation behind the attack is “not clear.”
According to initial reports, the deceased passenger was carrying explosives in the car but was prevented from exiting the vehicle by the taxi driver, David Perry, who sustained injuries after the explosive went off in the car. Perry has since been discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home.
The driver is being celebrated for his heroic act of preventing the passenger from leaving the vehicle. Liverpool’s Mayor, Joanne Anderson, applauded Perry for his “presence of mind and bravery.” He said, “The taxi driver, in his heroic efforts, has managed to divert what could have been an absolutely awful disaster at the hospital.”
The decision to raise the National Threat Level was made by the British Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC). The JTAC comprises representatives from the police, government, and security agencies.
Regarding the the threat level being raised, Home Secretary Priti Patel said, “It is important that the public remains alert to the threat from terrorism but not alarmed. I urge anyone with information or who suspects any suspicious activity to report it to the police.” Patel added, “There is a live investigation taking place right now, they will need the time, the space, to do the work that they are doing in terms of investigating the incident.” She also condemned the “significant impact” that the attack had on the community, expressing her support to the people in Liverpool.
Previously, in November 2020, the threat level in the UK was raised to severe following terror attacks in Vienna, Nice, and Paris. However, after a “significant reduction” in the attacks across the European continent, it was brought down to “substantial.”
Severe is the second-highest level of threat to national security and means that an attack is “highly likely,” compared to just “likely” under the Substantial threat level. However, unlike the higher Critical level, there is no specific evidence to suggest that an attack is imminent.