Two years after the costliest terrorist attack in history, the insurance industry has failed to think significantly about how it tackles such threats.
The warning was given by terrorism experts speaking at the Chartered Insurance Institute conference in London yesterday (Friday).
James Peace, London market director of loss adjuster GAB Robbins said that since the tragic events of 11 September 2001, there had been "activity in local and central government".
He added damningly: "I'm really not certain that the rest of us have thought about it a huge amount since 9/11."
Peace said the greatest havoc could be caused by terrorists equipped with chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear weapons that could contaminate London.
Michael Burnett, the president of the Chartered Institute of Loss Adjusters, said criminals bent on causing havoc would not even need such sophisticated weapons.
Small fires started in publicly accessible junction boxes could destroy the City's network of fibre optic communication cables, plunging the capital into chaos.
"You don't need technology," he warned. "You just need to hit where it's most uncomfortable."
Contamination in London could cause widespread disruption. "I wouldn't know where I would start getting contamination gear," he admitted.
