Cities outside London likely terrorist targets

LONDON, Wednesday (Reuters) British cities outside London are likely targets for terrorists after July's bomb attacks on the capital's transport system, a security think tank said on Tuesday.

A report by the Centre for Defence Studies at London's King's College, said attackers may switch the location and types of target as they try to elude Britain's security services and spread mass panic.

"If there is a controlling hand behind the July attacks, the next phase is likely to be marked by a determined attempt to mount attacks in cities other than London," said Michael Clarke, who edited the report.

He said potential attackers would probably aim for places where large numbers of people congregate which have some symbolic value, but not the transport infrastructure. Clarke told reporters attackers still favoured using explosives for maximum visual and psychological effect.

"Planting a bomb, especially a "dirty" bomb contaminated with chemical or radiological elements, still represents the main aim of most "jihadi" terrorists," said Clarke.

If July's attacks were not mentored from outside, London may remain the prime target for spontaneous imitative attackers but even those groups would soon realise that softer and easier targets exist outside the capital, he said.

"Terrorists want the public to feel politicians were making them more vulnerable by failing to change policy in some critical areas," he said.

The report also said Britain's existing intelligence gathering process is deficient and should be streamlined.