Remain alert but not alarmed: Lancashire Police share warning after UK terrorist threat level raised to severe
The Prime Minister has issued a stark warning as the UK terrorist threat level has been raised to severe.
Lancashire Police have shared a warning after Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised the UK terrorist threat level to ‘severe’.
The severe threat means an attack is highly likely.
The Prime Minister warned Iran that efforts to stir up violence and hatred in the UK “will not be tolerated” amid suspicions Tehran could be backing antisemitic attacks.
He told leaders of community groups, senior government ministers and police chiefs that there would be “consequences” if Iran was found to be behind some of the incidents.
Describing the situation as a “crisis” in the wake of the Golders Green attack, Sir Keir said new legislation would be rushed through to tackle “malign threats”.
Last week’s stabbing in Golders Green was the latest in a series of attacks on Britain’s Jewish community which have contributed to concerns that antisemitism is on the rise.
Actions will have consequences
Speaking in Downing Street, the Prime Minister said: “One of the lines of inquiry is whether a foreign state has been behind some of these incidents.
“We are investigating, of course, all the possibilities.
“And we are clear that these actions will have consequences if that proves to be the case.
“Our message to Iran or to any other country that might seek to foment violence, hatred or division in society is that it will not be tolerated.
“That is why we are fast-tracking legislation to tackle these malign threats.”
The Government has promised a new law to allow it to take action against state-backed groups amid calls for the proscription of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
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At a roundtable of senior figures from the police, representatives from the arts, higher education, trade unions and businesses, Sir Keir also promised new action to implement a “zero tolerance” approach to antisemitism on university campuses and action in the arts.
Universities will now be expected to “demonstrate action” to tackle antisemitism among students, the Prime Minister said.
He added: “We will now expect them to publish the scale of the problem on their campuses, as well as the specific steps they have taken to clamp down on it. There will be zero tolerance for inaction.
The Arts Council will, meanwhile, be expected to withdraw funding and claw it back from anyone who is found to promote antisemitism, the Prime Minister said.
Independent audit
He also said the government has ordered an independent audit of how allegations of antisemitism are handled.
“This will be a hard-edge review of where systems are failing.
“We will not, and cannot, accept complacency, delays or weak enforcement, and where inconsistency is found, it will be challenged and addressed swiftly.”
Ahead of the meeting, the government announced Jewish communities across England are set to receive an extra £1 million of government funding.
The money is expected to pay for community safety work and projects aimed at countering antisemitic narratives.
A spokesperson for Lancashire Police said: “For you, the public, this means remaining alert but not alarmed. Within policing we will continue to work, day and night, to keep you safe.”
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