Brits Raise Terror Alert Level to 'Critical'
"Critical" security level defined as "an attack is expected imminently."
June 30, 2007 — -- British authorities raised that nation's threat level to "critical" today following a vehicle attack on a passenger terminal at Glasgow airport in Scotland, British authorities said.
The last time the threat level was raised to critical in the United Kingdom was last August after a liquid bomb plot was foiled.
Subsequently the threat level had been reduced to severe where it remained until today.
Although the threat level "critical" is meant to indicate an attack is imminent, in practice the British appear to have reserved its use for after an attack or attempted attack has already occurred and a follow-up attack is imminent.