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UK lowers threat level after second arrest in subway bombing

by Olivia Beavers - 09/17/17 12:52 PM ET

The British government on Sunday lowered the nation’s threat level after the arrest of a second man in connection with a subway blast that injured dozens within a London train station, according to multiple reports.

The “severe” threat level now classifies the chances of an attack as “highly likely” rather than “imminent.” The threat level had been set at “critical” on Friday after a bomb partially exploded aboard a train during the morning rush hour, injuring 30 people.

{mosads}Home Secretary Amber Rudd said while the investigation is ongoing, the downgraded alert serves as a sign that authorities are making “good progress,” The Associated Press reported.

Police on Saturday detained a 21-year-old man in a west London suburb after arresting an 18-year-old man in connection with the blast earlier in the day, according to multiple reports.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria claimed that an affiliate unit carried out the attack.

“It is inevitable that so-called Islamic State, or Daesh, will reach in and try to claim responsibility. We have no evidence to suggest that yet,” Rudd told the BBC, according to the AP. “But as this unfolds, and as the police do their investigations, we will make sure that we find out exactly how he was radicalized, if we can,” Rudd said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May urged in an interview that aired Sunday that people shouldn’t speculate about the details or the ongoing investigation of the attack.

President Trump tweeted Friday that a “loser terrorist” carried out the attack.

“These are sick and demented people who were in the sights of Scotland Yard,” Trump added. “Must be proactive!”

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