BARROW'S MP says it is 'prudent' to raise the terror threat because risk from terrorist incident is 'faced by everyone'.

The UK national terrorism threat level has been raised from substantial to severe – meaning an attack is highly likely.

It follows the explosion outside Liverpool Women's Hospital on Sunday and the killing of MP Sir David Amess last month.

Furness MP Mr Fell said: "Given the events in Liverpool it is prudent to raise the threat level to ensure that the emergency services are at the correct level of preparedness.

"This incident shows that the risk faced from these incidents is faced by everyone."

He said there had been no change to enhanced security measures for MPs brought in after the death of Sir David.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "It is important that the public remains alert to the threat from terrorism but not alarmed. I urge anyone with information or who suspects any suspicious activity to report it to the police."

Threat levels are determined independently of ministers and are a tool for security practitioners, including the police, to use in determining what protective security response may be required.

The UK terror threat was last at severe in November 2020 before being lowered to substantial in February 2021.

JTAC is based at MI5's headquarters in London and is made up of counter-terror experts from the police, government and security agencies.

The suspected terrorist who blew himself up with a homemade bomb outside the hospital in Liverpool was a Christian convert who reportedly had an asylum claim rejected in 2014.

Emad Al Swealmeen is said to have moved to the UK from the Middle East several years ago and was supported by a Christian couple who at one stage housed him in Liverpool.

The 32-year-old died in the blast in a taxi outside Liverpool Women's Hospital shortly before 11am on Remembrance Sunday.

Taxi driver David Perry escaped the vehicle and has since been discharged from hospital.

Police, who are being assisted by MI5 in the investigation, said 'significant progress' had been made but it could take 'many weeks' before they fully understand what happened.