The home secretary confirmed today that the terror threat in the UK has increased to severe following a terror attack in Liverpool. 

An explosion outside Liverpool Women's Hospital on Sunday November 14 was declared a terror incident by police. 

UK prime minister Boris Johnson will chair an emergency Cobra meeting on Monday afternoon in response to the explosion, Downing Street has said. 

Today, Priti Patel said that the terror threat for the UK has been raised to severe from substantial. 

Here's what the different threat levels mean...

What are the different terror threat levels in the UK?

There are five levels of terror threat in the UK:

  • low - an attack is highly unlikely
  • moderate - an attack is possible but not likely
  • substantial - an attack is likely
  • severe - an attack is highly likely
  • critical - an attack is highly likely in the near future

On Monday November 15, the UK's terror threat was increased from substantial to severe, meaning a terror attack is highly likely. 

The level is set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre and the Security Service (MI5).

Threat levels can change at any time as different information becomes available.

The terror threat level was last increased from substantial to severe in November 2020, before being reduced back to  substantial in February 2021.