2:51pm UK, Friday April 30, 2004

The MI5 security service has for the first time put information about terror threats on the internet.

Information on the site had previously been confined mainly to government departments and is mainly aimed at business.

MI5 chief Manningham-Buller

It details information on how to prevent against Islamic and Northern Ireland-based terrorism.

MI5 Director General Eliza Manningham-Buller said: "Our aim is to help inform decisions people may need to take about security measures.

"The descriptions of the threats should give people a better feel for the range and nature of security issues we all face and help to place our security advice in context."

The advice featured general guidelines on reducing exposure to security threats and information about how to tackle specific risks, such as bombs and hackers.

In its section on suicide bombs, the MI5 website points out that "any bomber, whether driving a lorry or wearing an exploding body belt, needs physical access in order to achieve their end".

It goes on: "The principle behind protective measures should therefore be denial of access to anyone, or to any thing, that has not been thoroughly searched."