UK Threat Level Prompts Canadian Travel Advisory Update

The Canadian government updated its travel advice for the United Kingdom, adding a warning about the threat of terrorism in the countries. The warning reflects the fact that the U.K. recently raised its terrorism threat assessment from level three (substantial) to level four (severe). 

Threat levels in the U.K. are set by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre (JTAC) based on intelligence, terrorist capability, terrorist intentions, and timescale — with a more imminent threat driving the threat level higher. 

The increased threat level did not change the Canadian travel advisory ranking, which remains at yellow/exercise a high degree of caution. 

The advice from Global Affairs states that the U.K. has been subject to terror attacks and is likely to be subject to them again, with possible targets listed as government buildings, including schools, places of worship, airports and other transportation hubs and networks or public areas such as tourist attractions, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shopping centres, markets and hotels. That advice was not changed in the update, nor was the warning to stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings, particularly at sporting events or during religious holidays, public celebrations and major political events, such as elections. 

To read the full advisory, please visit travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-kingdom. To read more about the terror level assessments in the UK, please visit www.mi5.gov.uk/threats-and-advice/terrorism-threat-levels.

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