Terror threat level lowered from 'critical' to 'severe' after Parsons Green Tube attack arrests

Home Secretary says police are making 'good progress' with investigation into District Line bombing

The terror threat level has been reduced from "critical" to "severe" after two men were arrested in conjunction with the Parsons Green Tube terror attack, Amber Rudd has announced.

The Home Secretary said police have made "good progress" with their investigation.

"Severe" means a terrorist attack is thought to be highly likely, whereas "critical" suggests it is imminent.

Soldiers who had been drafted in to guard public sites in order to free up police resources will "return to their original positions" over the next few days, Ms Rudd said.

The Home Secretary said the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC), which determines the terror threat level, had decided that "sufficient progress" has been made in the Parsons Green investigation to lower the threat.

Isis has claimed responsibility for the attack, which left 30 people injured when a bomb partially exploded on a District Line train on Friday morning. However, the Metropolitan Police said it was "routine" for the group to claim it was behind attacks in which it has actually had little direct involvement.

Responding to reported Isis claims that its followers have manufactured further explosive devices in London, Ms Rudd said: "They will always make claims that suit their intentions, but actually there is no evidence of that."

Speaking shortly after the Home Secretary, the Met Police's Assistant Commissioner, Mark Rowley, who is also National Lead for Counter Terrorism Policing, provided an update on the Parsons Green investigation.

He said: "The high pace and rapid progress of this investigation is continuing. There was another arrest overnight and two men are in custody. There are now two searches continuing at addresses in Hounslow and Surrey and we are getting a greater understanding of the preparation of the device.

“There is still much more to do but this greater clarity and this progress has led JTAC – the independent body that assess threat – to come to the judgement that an attack is no longer imminent. And you will have heard consequently the Home Secretary’s announcement that the threat level has reduced from Critical to Severe which of course means that an attack is highly likely.

“The military support we have had in place under Operation Temperer will start to phase out as we move through the coming week. There are detailed and well-rehearsed plans in place to ensure a smooth transition from Operation Temperer, and military personnel will remain at readiness to deploy in support of the police should future security situations require.

“I want to stress however, that specialist teams, well-rehearsed at dealing with major incidents, continue to provide a strong visible presence throughout the capital and across the UK.