Terror alert system explained

Terror alert systems are standardised emergency population warning systems for describing and disseminating information about terrorism-related threats. They became more popular after the September 11 attacks on the United States in 2001.

Australia

National Counter-Terrorism Alert Level

• Certain - terrorist attack is imminent or has occurred
• Expected- terrorist attack is highly likely
• Probable - terrorist attack is likely
• Possible - terrorist attack could occur
• Low - terrorist attack is not expected

Administered by the Federal Attorney-General's Department.

France

See main article: Vigipirate.

Plan Vigipirate

• Yellow - to stress vigilance
• Orange - to warn of terrorist action
• Red - to warn of serious attempts
• Crimson - to warn of major attempts

Ireland (Republic of)

International Terror Threat Level

• Low: An attack is deemed unlikely.
• Moderate: An attack is possible, but not likely.
• Substantial: An attack is a strong possibility.
• Severe: An attack is highly likely.
• Critical: An attack is imminent or has occurred.

Administered by the Garda Síochána.^[1]

Since November 2015, the international terrorism threat level is considered to be at moderate, meaning an attack is "possible but not likely".^{[2] [3]}

Netherlands

See main article: Nationaal Coördinator Terrorismebestrijding en Veiligheid.

Russia

• Blue - an unconfirmed information about real terroristic threat^[4]
• Yellow - a confirmed information about real terroristic threat
• Red - an information about committed terrorist act

United Kingdom

See main article: UK Threat Levels.

• Low - an attack is unlikely
• Moderate - an attack is possible, but not likely
• Substantial - an attack is a strong possibility
• Severe - an attack is highly likely
• Critical - an attack is expected imminently or has occurred

Administered by the Joint Terrorist Analysis Centre

United States

Homeland Security Advisory System

See main article: Terror Alert Level.

• Low - Low risk of terrorist attacks
• Guarded - General risk of terrorist attacks
• Elevated - Significant risk of terrorist attacks
• High - High risk of terrorist attacks
• Severe - Severe risk of terrorist attacks

Administered by the Department of Homeland Security

National Terrorism Advisory System

• Elevated Threat - Significant or high risk of terrorist attacks
• Imminent Threat - Critical risk of terrorist attacks

Notes and References

1. News: O'Keeffe. Cormac. What is the reality of the threat posed by Islamic extremists in Ireland?. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160503110420/http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/what-is-the-reality-of-the-threat-posed-by-islamic-extremists-in-ireland-396021.html. 3 May 2016. 11 May 2016. Irish Examiner. 2 May 2016.
2. News: Terror threat level unaffected by attacks. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150925042026/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/terror-threat-level-unaffected-by-attacks-31333802.html. 25 September 2015. 1 July 2015. Irish Independent. 27 June 2015.
3. News: Williams. Paul. Brady. Tom. Units to counter terrorism step up training. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20151125133921/http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/units-to-counter-terrorism-step-up-training-34228317.html. 25 November 2015. 24 November 2015. Irish Independent. 24 November 2015.
4. http://nac.gov.ru/urovni-terroristicheskoy-opasnosti.html УРОВНИ ТЕРРОРИСТИЧЕСКОЙ ОПАСНОСТИ | Национальный антитеррористический комитет