Threat Level Raised in Britain Due to Terrorist Threat

On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Theresa May stated that the threat level in the country has been raised from 'severe' to 'critical' due to the high likelihood of a new terrorist attack. On Monday night, a suicide bombing near a concert hall in Manchester, northern Britain, resulted in 22 deaths and 59 injuries. According to the Associated Press, the Prime Minister indicated that the increase in the threat level means that the probability of new terrorist attacks is very high. She added that raising the security alert allows the government to deploy military forces to assist police and security forces in countering threats, especially in protecting sensitive locations. Theresa May emphasized that the increase in security alert is a proportional and reasonable response to the current situation. According to Reuters, this is the first time in a decade that Britain has raised its terrorist threat level. Manchester police announced on Tuesday that Salman Abedi, a 22-year-old, was the perpetrator of the suicide attack outside the concert hall. It is reported that Salman Abedi's parents are from Libya, while Theresa May stated that the attacker was born in Britain. Meanwhile, the Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the explosion on Tuesday. Reports indicate that British police have launched an extensive investigation to find individuals connected to the Manchester attack and inspected two homes in the city on Monday. Manchester police stated that on Tuesday, a 23-year-old was arrested in southern Manchester in connection with the explosion. The bombing occurred as the concert by American singer Ariana Grande had just ended and the crowd was exiting the venue. A large gathering was held on Tuesday in Manchester to commemorate the victims of the attack. In this context, ISIS claimed responsibility for the deadly Manchester explosion.