The terrorist threat
The most serious threat to the security of the UK today comes from international terrorism.
The terrorist threat to the UK is not new. In the post-war period, terrorist organisations with a wide range of motivations have repeatedly attacked the UK, and the threat of Irish-related terrorism remains. The government works with security agencies, police and others to tackle all forms of terrorism, including terrorist attacks from violent far right groups. Find out the current threat level.
The threat from international terrorism
However, Al Qa’ida and similar groups are at present the main terrorist threat to the UK and our interests overseas. The 11 September 2001 attacks showed these terrorists are willing and able to carry out devastating acts of violence.
British citizens working with Al Qa’ida were responsible for the 7 July 2005 London bombings in which 52 people were murdered, and since 2001 the police and Security Service have disrupted more than a dozen attempted terrorist plots in the UK. Read the list of proscribed groups.
Explore this section:
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The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre brings together expertise in terrorism from across government to assess the terrorist threat to the UK.
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Information about the threat to the UK, and how the threat from modern international groups has changed.
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The full list of banned organisations.
Proscribed terrorist organisations
Many organisations are proscribed, or banned, under current legislation.
