Military personnel at an army base were mistakenly placed on alert following a false report of a ‘Lee Rigby-style’ threat against a paratrooper.
Army families were warned to remain “vigilant”, it was reported earlier today, after an alleged administrative error was made by police.
Security had been tightened at bases in Colchester, where two Parachute Regiment battalions are stationed, while an image of the suspect was circulated.
Military staff had also been urged not to wear any uniforms or anything that could identify them as military personnel.
According to the Daily Mail, instructions to security staff at the gate read: "Urgent. All, please disseminate to all your people in camp.
"We have received warning that a man has made threats against members of the Para Regt and wants to carry out a ‘Lee Rigby’ style attack.
"The SCC [Security Control Centre] and main gate have been informed but ensure no Para Regt/military clothing is worn outside camp and remain vigilant."
However, it emerged on Friday afternoon that the threatening online post which prompted the alert was actually made last year, the Mail reported.
It is understood that due to an error logging the date the post was made, military officials were mistakenly informed it was a new threat.
Approximately 3,500 troops and 750 civilian staff are stationed at the base in Colchester, where both military personnel and their families had been advised to exercise caution.
The Ministry of Defence previously confirmed it was aware of an “online threat”.
According to The Sun, the plot was being investigated by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, which is one of the largest collaborative policing units in the country, delivering specialist capabilities.
It combines staff from Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire police forces and tackles the most serious organised and violent crime, countering terrorism and extremism.
An Army spokesperson said: "The safety and wellbeing of our personnel is our top priority.
"We are aware of an online threat, which is being investigated by the civilian police.
"Personnel are always advised to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the Royal Military Police."
The 2013 murder of 25-year-old British fusilier Lee Rigby sent shockwaves across the nation.
The soldier was off duty and walking along Wellington Street in Woolwich on May 23, 2013, when he was attacked and beheaded by Islamist terrorists Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale near the Royal Artillery Barracks.
The murder sparked national outrage and an outpouring of grief, with then Prime Minister David Cameron calling it a “stark reminder of the threat we face from home-grown terrorists and extremists”, while The Muslim Council of Britain called it a “barbaric” act that had “no basis in Islam”.
Adebolajo was given a whole-life term and Adebowale was jailed for a minimum of 45 years for Rigby’s murder.