Government counter-terrorism paper says UK faces dirty bomb risk

A British Home Office counter-terrorism strategy report has warned that the country is at an increased risk of attack from nuclear and dirty bombs.

Terrorists "aspire to use chemical, biological, radiological and even nuclear weapons and explosives (CBRNE)," The Sun quotes the strategy paper, as saying.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith unveiled the document with the stark warning of the changing shape of terror threats.

It reveals: "Changing technology and the theft and smuggling of CBRNE materials make this aspiration more realistic than it may have been."

The document further outlines how terrorists have developed new types of explosives and new ways of using them and how the government is now looking at ways of coping with a nuclear, chemical or biological attacks as well as the more conventional bombings.

The report - known as Contest Two - is the first unclassified document to contain a detailed account of UK officials' assessment of the underlying causes of the terrorist threat and its likely future direction.

Smith while admitting to the severity of the terror threat against the UK, however, maintains that the country is winning the war against al-Qaeda and other terror outfits.

The Contest strategy is divided into four strands - Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare.

This covers preventing radicalisation of potential terror recruits, disrupting terror operations, reducing the vulnerability of the UK and ensuring the country is ready for the consequences of any attack.

A Home Guard of 60,000 civilians including office workers, retailers and hotel staff across the country will be trained to respond to terrorist threats.

The strategy will involve enlisting the "widest range" of people and making other citizens more vigilant about the threat of an attack.

By 2011, Britain will be spending 3.5 billion pounds a year on counter-terrorism. (ANI)