Threat Level Raised to Severe

Britain raised its threat level from substantial to severe, indicating a terrorist attack is "highly likely," the Home Secretary said. However, he added, "there is no intelligence to suggest an attack is imminent." He encouraged the public "to be vigilant and help police and security forces in their work." "We know this country faces a threat from international terrorism,". "The fact we've gone to a different level with respect to that is part of the system for protecting the public against that threat." The increase in threat level comes two days after Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced Britain is expanding its security watch list and has suspended all direct flights to Yemen as part of a series of new counterterrorism measures. Britain's highest threat level is "critical."