Prepare for ‘state-sponsored terrorism’ and cyber attacks to cause food shortages, Wes Streeting warns
Wes Streeting warned that hostile states or terrorists could use cyber attacks to disrupt essential services and supply chains, potentially causing food shortages. He urged the public to prepare for disruption, as the government expands its advice on household readiness.
The government’s “Be ready” checklist recommends keeping food, water, medicine and other essentials at home, including a first-aid kit and pet food. The warning followed a cyber-security incident that took websites and government services offline worldwide, while authorities and companies applied security updates. Streeting was speaking at the opening of a new tank gun barrel factory in Telford, where he also announced UK production of tank components for the first time in two decades.
In short
- Streeting says cyber attacks could disrupt supplies and supermarket payments.
- Government advice urges households to keep essential supplies at home.
- A global cyber-security incident took websites and services offline.
Explained simply
Food and other everyday goods depend on networks of suppliers, transport links and digital systems. A cyber attack can disrupt those systems, while hostile states or terrorist groups may target them to cause wider disruption.
Wes Streeting is a senior government minister. The government’s “Be ready” advice asks households to keep basic supplies, such as food, water and medicines, in case essential services are interrupted.
The warning comes amid broader concern about how prepared the UK is for emergencies. Disruption to supply chains could affect people’s access to essentials, even if the cause is an attack on computer systems rather than physical infrastructure.
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