Home Secretary Theresa May has repeated Government warnings of a "very serious" threat from terrorism as the new National Security Strategy was set to be unveiled.
Mrs May urged the public to remain vigilant in the face of a "highly likely" attack by international terrorists.
"We are absolutely clear that we do have a very serious threat from international terrorism - that is why the threat level here in the UK is at severe," she told ITV1's Daybreak.
"That means that an attack is highly likely, so everybody does need to be vigilant. What we see today is more diverse sources of threat, but we are absolutely clear that we do have that very serious threat from international terrorism."
Mrs May was speaking as Britain's new National Security Strategy was expected to name terrorism and cyber-attacks on vital computer networks as the biggest threats to the UK in the immediate future.
The strategy, to be announced by David Cameron in a written statement to MPs, has been drawn up by the Prime Minister's new National Security Council as part of an assessment of Britain's defence needs which he ordered in May. It will set the scene for Tuesday's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), which will sketch out the shape of Britain's future armed forces and explain what equipment and manpower will have to be sacrificed to achieve the 7%-8% savings demanded by the Treasury.
A leaked draft of the national security document suggested that military conflict with another state will come only fourth in a list of potential threats to the UK, behind terror outrages by groups such as al Qaida, cyber-attacks and natural disasters.
The launch comes just days after the head of the Government's GCHQ eavesdropping centre, Iain Lobban, warned of the very real danger of cyber-terrorism directed at the UK's critical computer infrastructure.
Shadow foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The Government seem to be producing a reheated security strategy to provide cover for a rushed defence spending review, rather than producing a renewed and careful consideration of the UK's defence and security priorities. The Government should show renewed vigour in the process towards a political settlement in Afghanistan, led by the Afghans, while supporting our 10,000 troops with the resources they need in creating the conditions on the ground for a more stable country.
"The strategy must also address new and emerging threats, including the prevalence of cyber-attacks; ambitions from terrorist groups to obtain chemical or biological weapons; and working to prevent conflict in failing states. The Government should also show more diplomatic activism in the Middle East, and be at the forefront of European Union support for the continuation of direct talks."
Home Secretary Theresa May has repeated Government warnings of a "very serious" threat from terrorism as the new National Security Strategy was set to be unveiled.
Mrs May urged the public to remain vigilant in the face of a "highly likely" attack by international terrorists.
"We are absolutely clear that we do have a very serious threat from international terrorism - that is why the threat level here in the UK is at severe," she told ITV1's Daybreak.
"That means that an attack is highly likely, so everybody does need to be vigilant. What we see today is more diverse sources of threat, but we are absolutely clear that we do have that very serious threat from international terrorism."
Mrs May was speaking as Britain's new National Security Strategy was expected to name terrorism and cyber-attacks on vital computer networks as the biggest threats to the UK in the immediate future.
The strategy, to be announced by David Cameron in a written statement to MPs, has been drawn up by the Prime Minister's new National Security Council as part of an assessment of Britain's defence needs which he ordered in May. It will set the scene for Tuesday's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), which will sketch out the shape of Britain's future armed forces and explain what equipment and manpower will have to be sacrificed to achieve the 7%-8% savings demanded by the Treasury.
A leaked draft of the national security document suggested that military conflict with another state will come only fourth in a list of potential threats to the UK, behind terror outrages by groups such as al Qaida, cyber-attacks and natural disasters.
The launch comes just days after the head of the Government's GCHQ eavesdropping centre, Iain Lobban, warned of the very real danger of cyber-terrorism directed at the UK's critical computer infrastructure.
Shadow foreign secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The Government seem to be producing a reheated security strategy to provide cover for a rushed defence spending review, rather than producing a renewed and careful consideration of the UK's defence and security priorities. The Government should show renewed vigour in the process towards a political settlement in Afghanistan, led by the Afghans, while supporting our 10,000 troops with the resources they need in creating the conditions on the ground for a more stable country.
"The strategy must also address new and emerging threats, including the prevalence of cyber-attacks; ambitions from terrorist groups to obtain chemical or biological weapons; and working to prevent conflict in failing states. The Government should also show more diplomatic activism in the Middle East, and be at the forefront of European Union support for the continuation of direct talks."