Terror threat still "severe"

Apr 21 2009 by Catherine Lillington

SECURITY Minister Lord West said the threat of a terrorist attack remains “severe” on a visit to Birmingham.

During his visit to the Hilton Metropole Hotel yesterday, Lord West said the most likely form of attack would be a vehicle-borne explosive into a crowded place.

Lord West was in the city to begin public consultation on guidance to protect people at would-be terrorist targets including shopping centres and football grounds and announced £5 million to bring it into effect.

Speaking to delegates - among them the police, Midlands councils and NEC venues - the minister said it was important to be in Birmingham because sometimes issues got “London-centric”.

He was asked to review protecting crowded places by Gordon Brown in 2007 after terrorists rammed a jeep into Glasgow Airport, which immediately put the country on critical alert - the highest terror threat level.

He said: “The scale and the nature of the threat we face today is radically different from what we have had to deal with in recent decades.

“The threat level in this country does remain severe. Even as I’m talking to you now an attack or multiple attacks could be happening.”