Britain faces the threat of "dirty bomb" attacks on its cities greater than ever before from homegrown terrorist networks or lone individuals motivated by al-Qaeda-style ideology, a top official has warned.
In a report presented before Parliament on the state of the terror threat, Home secretary Jacqui Smith on Tuesday evening said: "Britain is in danger from self-starting terror networks or lone individuals motivated by an al-Qaeda-style ideology."
She said shopping centres, sports stadiums, nightclubs and cinemas could all be targeted by homegrown extremists. About 60,000 workers including shopping centre and store managers, would be trained to tackle terror attacks.
This "workers' army" would act as a new frontline in the fight against terror.
She claimed an increasing amount of chemical, nuclear biological and radiological material had become available and could fall into the hands of extremists living in Britain. Some of these substances were being sold on the internet.
The dossier, Contest Two, described the causes of extremism in this country, such as the Palestinian conflict and a lack of integration, among some Muslims.
It warned the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq had allowed terrorists to develop more sophisticated bombs.
Fifty-two people were killed in July 2005 when four suicide bombers targeted London's transport network.
