UK intelligence agency raises threat level for Northern Ireland to “severe”

The change comes roughly a year after Britain lowered the threat level for the province to "substantial" for the first time in more than a decade.

UK intelligence Northern Ireland threat level severe

A forensic officer from Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) works at the scene of the Youth Sport Omagh sports complex on Killyclogher Road area, where off-duty PSNI Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot, in Omagh, Northern Ireland February 23, 2023. (Reuters/File)

Listen to this article

00:00

1x 1.5x 1.8x

Britain’s MI5 intelligence agency has increased its threat level to Northern Ireland from domestic terrorism to “severe” – meaning an attack is highly likely, Britain said on Tuesday.

“In recent months, we have seen an increase in levels of activity relating to Northern Ireland Related Terrorism, which has targeted police officers serving their communities and also put at risk the lives of children and other members of the public,” Northern Ireland minister Chris Heaton-Harris said in a written ministerial statement.

The change comes roughly a year after Britain lowered the threat level for the province to “substantial” for the first time in more than a decade.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram