Al Qaida is intent on using the internet to launch a cyber-warfare campaign against the UK, ministers claimed today.

They say terrorist groups, which already use the internet for recruitment, propaganda and communication purposes, want to turn it into a 'dangerous weapon'.

Security Minister Lord West issued the warning as he published the Government's new Cyber Security Strategy aimed at heading off online threats.

As well as potential cyber-attacks from terrorists, the UK faces a real and growing threat from foreign governments such as China and Russia, and from organised criminal gangs, he said.

Targets include key businesses, the national power grid, financial markets and Whitehall departments.

As part of attempts to beef up defences, a new Office for Cyber Security will be set up to co-ordinate Government policy.

Another new development will see the creation of a "cyber-forensics" team based at GCHQ, the Government's eavesdropping centre in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

The Cyber Security Operations Centre will constantly monitor, analyse and counter cyber attacks as they happen.

Lord West said the terrorists' capability to launch attacks was something he believed "will develop" in future.

"We know terrorists use the internet for radicalisation and things like that at the moment, but there is a fear they will move down that path (of cyber attacks).

"As their ability to use the web and the net grows, there will be more opportunity for these attacks.

He confirmed that the UK Government has already faced cyber attacks from foreign states such as Russia and China.

But he denied that hackers had successfully broken into Government systems and stolen secret information.

He also said he could not deny that the Government has its own online attack capability, but he refused to say whether it had ever been used.

"It would be silly to say that we don't have any capability to do offensive work from Cheltenham, and I don't think I should say any more than that."

Among those the Government has turned to for help on cyber crime are former illegal hackers, Lord West said.

He said GCHQ had not employed any "ultra, ultra criminals" but needed the expertise of former "naughty boys" he said.

"You need youngsters who are deep into this stuff," he said.

"If they have been slightly naughty boys, very often they really enjoy stopping other naughty boys."

The cyber strategy is part of the updated national security plan which was published for the first time this year.

It warns of the increased threat to this country as a result of the global economic meltdown.

Marking the launch of efforts to step up cyber security, the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Security Minister visited a London consultancy dedicated to tackling the threat.

Gordon Brown, Alan Johnson and Lord West visited the "nerve centre" of Detica to see how the technology is developing.

Executives told the ministers how broadband internet was becoming the "fourth utility" - in addition to gas, water and electricity - and as such needed to be as free from viruses as a water source - "clean, safe and secure".

Mr Brown said: "I think everybody knows the internet has expanded massively, information is flowing around the world, citizens are in danger of being victims of organised crime, there are potentially terrorist attacks on our community, so we are stepping up this strategic unit to look at cyber security."

He said cyber crime constituted a significant global industry and British people needed to be protected from it.

"We must not be the victims of it, and the more we lead the world, as we are today, in cyber security, the more we can protect the citizens of our country.

"Some people are using organised crime to fund terrorist groups. Some terrorist groups are using the internet in a wholly exploitative way.

"This is a national strategy for protecting Britain."

Shadow security minister Baroness Neville-Jones said: "This action on cyber security is long overdue.

"But it is impossible to know how significant these announcements are because we do not know what funding will be made available to enhance our ability to tackle cyber threats.

"It is also not clear how these new cyber security structures fit into the existing national security machinery. The Government has missed an opportunity to review and make sense of very muddled structures.

"Much more effort and resource also needs to be devoted to the growing menace of cyber crime.

"The need to produce such a substantial update to the National Security Strategy is an admission that the Government's first strategy did not actually set direction for different departments.

"We are also left waiting for a lot of detail on organised crime, maritime security and energy security."

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Tom Brake said: "This new cyber security strategy could lead to an extension of the Government's invasive counter-terrorism powers, which already pose significant threats to our civil liberties.

"The cyber security strategy uses broad, undefined terms that risk creating panic among the public and a demand for further Government powers. We must not retreat into a Cold War mentality.

"It is worrying that ministers have made no indication of how much these proposals will cost. Too many Government schemes have seen taxpayers' money being poured into a black hole.

"It is also unfortunate that the Government did not consider this strategy important enough to give Parliament an opportunity to debate this updated strategy on the floor of the House."

Belfast Telegraph