Nato UK base could be knocked out by undersea cable attack, MPs hear

A critical Nato base in Britain could be knocked out by an undersea cable attack, a parliamentary committee has chillingly been warned.

The Allied Maritime Command, known as 'Marcom', could face a communications blackout if deep sea cables connecting the UK to Europe and the US are sabotaged.

It comes as MPs were warned of the renewed threat posed by Russia, which is thought to be behind a string of alleged attacks against critical subsea infrastructure.

Marcom is based at the Northwood military base in Hertfordshire and acts as the operational HQ for the international alliance's maritime forces.

The secretive facility is one of several to rely on vital fibre-optic cables connecting the UK with the rest of Nato.