British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Friday he planned to introduce new legislation to make it harder for Britons to travel to Syria and Iraq to fight alongside Islamist extremists.



Cameron, who said he would detail his plans in parliament on Monday to confiscate passports, was speaking as Britain raised its international terrorism threat level to "severe", its second highest level.


"I will be making a statement in the House of Commons on Monday. This will include further steps to stop people travelling, with new legislation that will make it easier to take people's passports away," Cameron told a news conference.


Meanwhile, Britain raised its terror level from substantial to severe, the Associated Press reported.


A severe threat means that a terrorist attack is considered highly likely. It is the second highest of five levels.


Home Secretary Theresa May said the decision was related to developments in Iraq and Syria. There was no information to suggest an attack was imminent.


May urged the public "to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to the police."


The decision is made by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, she said. It is made on the basis of intelligence and is independent of government.



With files from the Associated Press