AL-QAEDA is plotting a devastating "cyber jihad" against Britain and the West, it was revealed yesterday.
Terrorists have even tried to "invade" Facebook in their campaign of electronic warfare.
The extremists have launched crack units to target key computer systems. And Google Earth and Street View are being used to help plan atrocities.
The warnings came as Home Secretary Theresa May unveiled the Government's new counter-terrorism strategy. Senior security officials say cyber-terrorism will become an ever growing threat. One source said: "At the moment incidents are few and far between but it's a taste of things to come."
A 123-page counter-terror blueprint reveals that a special unit - the Tariq bin Ziyad Brigades for Electronic Jihad - attacked computers last year. The document said: "Since the death of Osama Bin Laden, al-Qaeda has called not only for acts of lone or individual terrorism but also for cyber jihad."
Hate preachers are making increased use of the internet.
Experts estimate there are thousands of terrorist-related websites. The report adds: "A few dozen are highly influential and frequented by terrorists.
"Use of social networking sites and video sharing is now commonplace. There have been a number of attempts by terrorist and extremist groups to 'invade' Facebook."
Twitter is used to flag up extremist articles and websites.
Mrs May said: "Terrorists are increasingly using online technology, including Google Earth and Street View, for attack planning.
"The attacks in Mumbai in 2008 were directed by people using off-the-shelf secure communications technology."
Terrorists also use hi-tech encrypted mobile phones and texts to avoid detection.
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