British government is due to set up a new counter-terrorism center, designed to co-ordinate the government's technical response to terrorist threats and attacks in the UK and abroad, according to a BBC report on Monday.

BBC quoted Defence Secretary John Reid as saying that the Counter-Terrorism Science and Technology Center would be a "world class hub."

The unit -- dubbed a "one-stop shop" by the Ministry of Defence -- will be based at the Defence, Science and Technology Laboratory in Porton Down, Wiltshire, southwest of England.

The unit, under the leadership of Ken Brigden, will involve 15 counter-terrorism experts from government, industry and academia, and will share information across government departments.

They will look at developing new technology such as robots to disarm explosives and devices that can detect harmful substances after a blast. This would include developing ways to detect traces of radiological, chemical or biological substances after an explosion.

BBC reported that the center would look at the technical response to events such as the 7 July bombings in London, and threats to British armed forces overseas.

Source: Xinhua