In a severest warning, the Scotland Yard has said that London faces threat of a Mumbai- style terror attack at key places early next year. A senior detective from the Metropolitan police's counter-terrorism command said, the terrorists are poised to strike the city using handguns, bombs and hostage-taking techniques. Chairman of the Commons counter-terrorism sub-committee Patrick Mercer said the threat was very real.The Sunday Times published from London reported today that the warning was issued by the Metropolitan police through its network of "security forums", which provide business leaders, local government and the emergency services with counter-terrorism advice. One senior security adviser said, the police warnings have intensified and become much more specific in the past fortnight. According to the newspaper, concerns have been raised by "chatter" of a prominent 'jihadist' website two weeks ago.