British security services have raised the terror threat level in Britain from Irish republican dissidents for the first time in five years, according to The Guardian.
The threat of an attack is now considered substantial, an increase from moderate. That means “a terrorist attack is a strong possibility and reflects the continuing threat from dissident republican activity,” U.K. Home Secretary Theresa May announced Wednesday.
“We should not be alarmed, and this should not affect how we go about our daily lives,” May added.
The threat levels in Northern Ireland from republican dissidents and in the rest of the U.K. from international terror groups, such as ISIL, remain unchanged at severe, meaning those attacks are highly likely.
Dissident republican terror groups have been increasing their capacity for attacks by obtaining the plastic explosive semtex, according to The Guardian. The explosive was used in the murder of Northern Ireland prison officer Adrian Ismay in March.