CHURCHES IN LONDON ARE IN DANGER!?

The threat comes just hours after intelligence services warned that an attack in the UK is “highly likely” following the recent atrocities in Europe.

Security at British churches is also being ramped up after ISIS knifemen forced a French priest to kneel before slitting his throat on camera.

British counter-terror police have now “circulated specific advice” to churches across the UK amid fears of a similar attack.

Senior Met cop Neil Basu said: “Following recent events in France, we are reiterating our protective security advice to Christian places of worship and have circulated specific advice today.

“We are also taking this opportunity to remind them to review their security arrangements.”

Earlier this year, it was revealed that authorities have disrupted seven plots in the UK in the last 18 months.

Authorities are “working tirelessly” to confront the terrorist threat, the country’s most senior counter-terrorism officer has said.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said Scotland Yard is “constantly testing” the preparedness to respond to an attack.

However, security agency MI5, which sets the threat level, says the risk to Brits has developed significantly in wake of the attacks in Europe.

In the last month alone ISIS has claimed responsibility for brutalities in Nice, where 84 people were killed, a suicide bombing in Ansbach and an axe attack on a train near Wurzburg in southern Germany.

Britain’s intelligence agencies highlighted the seriousness of the threat as they defended themselves against accusations of collecting UK citizens’ personal information without proper legal safeguards put in place.

The charity Privacy International has taken the issue before the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) in London in a hearing expected to last four days.

Thomas de la Mare QC, for the charity, told the tribunal there was no form of “red flag system” in place to protect the privacy of UK citizens from the “aggressive use” of data collection powers given to the security services under section 94 of the Telecommunications Act 1984.

The accusations are being fought by the Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary, MI6, MI5 and Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ).

James Eadie QC, for the security services, is arguing that section 94 powers have at all times been used lawfully as an “essential tool” to meet the “increasing” terrorist threat

His written argument before the tribunal says: “The threat level currently stands at SEVERE, which means that an attack in the UK is highly likely.”

He states the principal threat comes from militant Islamist extremists, as was more than apparent from the recent tragic terrorist attacks in Tunisia, Paris and Brussels.

He says Northern Ireland-related terrorism also remains a severe threat.

Privacy International says current secret government surveillance practices go beyond what was revealed in the case of whistle-blower Edward Snowden.

The charity says the security services hold large amounts of data about a wide range of people, most of which is unlikely to be of any intelligence interest.

Bulk personal data includes information extracted from passports, travel records, financial data, telephone calls and emails.

SAISI!.........