Why has the UK’s terror threat level been lowered?

Analysis: Four terror attacks followed the last decision to lower the threat level to 'substantial', Lizzie Dearden writes

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News that the UK’s terror threat level has been lowered will be reassuring news to many.

Although, as the government and security services are keen to stress, a “substantial” threat means attacks are still likely, they are deemed less likely than at almost any other point since Isis declared its caliphate and started calling for indiscriminate attacks in 2014.

Priti Patel, the home secretary, said the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) took the decision because of the “significant reduction in the momentum of attacks in Europe since those seen between September and November 2020”.