UK citizens told to prepare for hybrid war and terrorism

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting urged the country to prepare for threats including hybrid warfare and “state- terrorism,” such as cyberattacks and sabotage targeting critical infrastructure.

Streeting made the remarks as the British government launched its Be Ready campaign on Oct. 22, The Guardian reported. He said the threats are already real and are increasingly emerging inside the United Kingdom.

Streeting said the public should consider how to respond to cyberattacks that could disable payment systems used by businesses or disrupt supply chains. He also urged people to take natural threats, such as floods and wildfires, into account.

“Terms like ‘hybrid warfare’ and ‘grey zone threats’ do not accurately capture or convey to the general public what I prefer to describe as ‘state- terrorism,” he said.

Streeting said the threats are increasingly emerging inside the UK, making it necessary for the country to strengthen its national resilience and defenses. He also called for an assessment of how prepared households and businesses are for potential crises and whether they know how to respond.

In August, the British government said it would encourage citizens to stock up on canned food and take other steps to prepare for national emergencies.

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