TerrorismU.K. raises terror threat level after London terrorist attack

Published 15 September 2017

British police is searching for those responsible for an IED explosion on a London subway train. Twenty-nine people were injured in the attack. Counterterrorism experts said the IED may have malfunctioned, thus averting a larger catastrophe. British prime minister Theresa May raised the country’s terror threat level to critical, meaning an attack is expected soon.

British police is searching for those responsible for an IED explosion on a London subway train. Twenty-nine people were injured in the attack.

Clearly, this was a device that was intended to cause significant harm,” Prime Minister Theresa May said after calling a meeting of the government’s COBRA emergency committee.

Later on Friday, May said that the country’s threat level was raised from severe to the highest possible level of critical, which means an attack is expected imminently.

The public will see more armed police on the transport network and on our streets providing extra protection,” May said.

This is a proportionate and sensible step which will provide extra reassurance and protection while the investigation progresses.”

The Islamic State claimed one of its affiliated group was responsible for the blast.

The Guardian reports that British police, backed by the country’s intelligence services, launched a brood manhunt in London and the suburbs.

Britain’s most senior counter-terrorism officer, Mark Rowley, said that no one had been arrested in connection with the attack but that detectives were reviewing surveillance camera footage, carrying out forensic work and speaking to witnesses.

The Metropolitan Police force said police were “making fast-time inquiries to establish who was responsible and are working closely with the security services.”

There is a manhunt underway as we speak,” London Mayor Sadiq Khan told LBC radio, urging Londoners to remain “calm and vigilant.”

As London has proven again and again, we will never be intimidated or defeated by terrorism,” he said.

Counterterrorism experts said the IED may have malfunctioned, thus averting a larger catastrophe.

They were really lucky with this one, it could have really become much worse,” terrorism analyst Magnus Ranstorp of the Swedish Defense University said. “It seems that this was hastily put together. Probably not very well mixed together.”

He said that judging from the photos, it appeared that the bomb did not fully detonate, as much of the device and its casing remained intact, making it easier for investigators to determine the composition of the bomb.