What is Operation Temperer? Parsons Green bomb sees Theresa May activate military security measure
IN the wake of the Parsons Green terrorist attack Theresa May again activated Operation Temperer.
The protocol sees soldiers deployed to support armed police in security duties while the terrorist threat level remains "critical". Here's what we know...
What is Operation Temperer?
Security chiefs drew up the plans following a series of jihadi attacks in the Paris area in January 2015, including the Kalashnikov massacre at the Charlie Hebdo magazine.
The plan, named Operation Temperer, was meant to be kept secret but minutes of a meeting were accidentally posted on the website of the National Police Chiefs Council.
The document revealed up to 5,100 troops would be used for "large-scale military support" in the wake of multiple attacks on British soil.
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Soldiers would be deployed to guard key sites in major UK cities "to augment armed police officers engaged in protective security duties";.
At the time of the leak in July 2015, government sources were reported saying Operation Temperer would only be triggered by the Cobra committee chaired by the Prime Minister if there were two or three terror attacks at the same time in Britain, leaving police struggling to respond.
Then PM David Cameron was said to be reluctant to use the power, fearing scenes like those in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
There was controversy when Tony Blair sent tanks to Heathrow airport in 2003 amid fears terrorists were plotting to shoot down commerical aircraft with missiles.
Was Operation Temperer activated after the Parsons Green bombing?
Yes - the procedure was put in place once the terror threat level was raised to "critical" after an IED exploded on a Tube in West London on Friday, September 15.
On Sunday the decision was made to reduce the threat level down to "severe" which means an attack is "highly likely".
Explaining the decision the Met Police's assistant commissioner Mark Rowley said: "The military support we have had in place under Operation Temperer will start to phase out as we move through the coming week.
"There are detailed and well-rehearsed plans in place to ensure a smooth transition from Operation Temperer, and military personnel will remain at readiness to deploy in support of the police should future security situations require.
Where were troops deployed following the Manchester bombing and what will they do?
Troops were deployed to protect major landmarks in London, including the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and Downing Street.
The day after Operation Temperer became active Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced that 984 members of the military had been deployed.
A further 3,800 troops were put on standby. The defence secretary Michael Fallon said they were ready if the police asked for additional support.
Soldiers took to the street to free up police officers for counter-terrorism duties.
The operation remained active until the end of the Spring Bank Holiday.
What is the UK terrorism threat level?
Britain's official terror threat level has been raised from "severe" to "critical" after the Parsons Green bombing.
After initially keeping the threat at "severe" Theresa May chose to raise it to its highest level as police searched for the suspected bomber.
An 18-year-old male has been arrested and is continuing to face questioning.
There are five threat levels, decided by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of an attack.
The UK's threat level was upgraded from "severe" to "critical" on May 23 following the Manchester bombing the previous day.
What do the threat levels mean?
Threat levels are designed to give a broad indication of the likelihood of a terrorist attack.
- LOW means an attack is unlikely.
- MODERATE means an attack is possible, but not likely
- SUBSTANTIAL means an attack is a strong possibility
- SEVERE means an attack is highly likely
- CRITICAL means an attack is expected imminently
