News
CST issues security advice for Jewish community after Manchester attack
New warnings come as terror threat level raised to 'critical'
May 24, 2017 08:25
New warnings come as terror threat level raised to 'critical'
May 24, 2017 08:25The Community Security Trust has warned that “transport hubs, key locations and events” are most at risk of a terrorist attack following Theresa May’s decision to raise Britain’s threat level to critical.
In a statement issued to British Jews, the CST said raising the national threat level showed the government and security services “believe an attack to be imminent, but there appears to be no detail as to precisely where or when it may occur".
But the charity made an additional warning: "Crowded places such as transport hubs, key locations and events will be most at risk and policing measures will significantly increase, with the military also deployed."
The suicide bomber who murdered 22 people at a concert in Manchester on Monday has been named as Salman Abedi.
Abedi, who was 22, was known to the security services and is said to have had terrorist training at a jihadist camp in Libya.
In its statement today, CST state: “The details emerging about the Manchester terrorist suggest a strong link with Libyan Islamist and jihadist circles in the city.
"These go back to the 1990s and have included Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda and ISIS elements."
Thousands of troops could be deployed at high-risk locations in the UK as part of Operation Temperer after the terror threat was raised from severe to critical for the first time in a decade.
CST said: "We increased patrols and security cover immediately after the Manchester bombing, before it was confirmed as terrorism and before the level was officially raised.
“This increase in security will continue, as will our heightened contact with police, government, our community and commercial guarding companies.
"CST is also doing its utmost to ensure that all communal organisations fully comply with security advice.
“This is when our collective long-term investment in security measures is sadly shown to be necessary."
This morning all customers arriving at Brent Cross shopping centre in north west London were subjected to strict bag searches before entering the mall.
Some car parks at the centre, popular with the local Jewish community, remained closed - leading to queues of traffic forming on the North Circular Road.
Customers were urged to remain patient – and were asked to follow directions to car parks that were open.
