Next terror target 'will be a soft one'

Sir David Omand, the Government's security and intelligence co-ordinator, has claimed that in the face of increased security, terrorists will attempt to disrupt the Stock Exchange, shopping centres and computer systems.

Speaking to a conference at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, he said hackers may paralyse computer networks operating water supplies, electricity grids, air traffic control and credit card systems.

Sir David said: "We must expect there will be a shift to softer targets including economic targets in response to our enhanced security."

He warned that terrorists would have a growing interest in access to biological and chemical agents and radiological material. "We should expect attacks on our information infrastructure, some from terrorist-inspired motives as well as criminal," he added.