Security is stepped up at 850 potential targets over the country

Security has been tightened in recent months at more than 850 potential terrorist targets, including football grounds and shopping centres, the new Home Secretary has disclosed.

In an emergency statement on the failed London and Glasgow car bombings, Jacqui Smith vowed that the country would not be intimidated by "those who wish to destroy our way of life and our freedoms".

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Ms Smith was joined by Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, and most of the Cabinet, as she made her first Commons statement since becoming Home Secretary five days ago.

She said the police had stepped up "protective security measures" over the past four days. They were mounting more patrols, had deployed more armed response vehicles and were increasing the use of stop-and-search powers.

Ms Smith disclosed that counterterrorist experts had recently given security advice involving a "range of crowded places", including more than 450 major sporting venues and about 400 shopping centres. Home Office sources said they had been given detailed information about monitoring crowds to see whether they contained potential attackers and protecting their venues against car bombers.

Ms Smith told MPs that police were conducting a "fast-moving investigation", with searches carried out in at least 19 locations.

She added: "Terrorists are criminals, whose victims come from all walks of life, communities and religions.

"Terrorists attack the values that are shared by all law-abiding citizens. As a government, as communities, as individuals, we need to ensure that the message of the terrorists is rejected.

"I very much welcome the strong messages of condemnation we have heard throughout the weekend from community leaders across the country."

Ms Smith and Mr Brown have steered clear of being drawn on the issue of tightening anti-terror legislation in the wake of the failed bombings.

Earlier Lord Carlile, the independent reviewer of anti-terrorism, suggested that the 28-day limit for holding suspects without charge might have to be extended. He said: "I think civil liberties groups have got to wake up to the reality of the situation."

In the Commons, David Davis, the shadow Home Secretary, said Ms Smith had handled the situation with calmness and dignity.

He warned: "We have been very, very lucky. It has only been the actions of a few people, fortuitously in the right place at the right time, that has prevented us facing more than one major loss of life in the last three days."

Mr Davis said three attempted atrocities had occurred without warning. "That means you will have the difficult task of reviewing the strategy and resourcing of the entire counter-terrorist effort."

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman, warned that ill-considered legislation could increase alienation and resentment, particularly among those communities "we want on our side".

Mark Field, the Conservative MP for Cities of London and Westminster, asked whether the Home Secretary would consider setting up a ring of steel in London's West End, similar to that in the City. Ms Smith said that she would listen to any ideas about the way to ensure security of people.

Derek Conway, the Tory MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, said that his 18-year-old daughter Claudia and her schoolfriends were in a basement of the Tiger Tiger club targeted by the bombers when the alarm was raised.

Later he said outside the House: "If that car had exploded, they would not have survived." He spoke of the extraordinary bravery of the officers who had dismantled the device.

The terror alert has derailed Mr Brown's carefully-laid plans for the opening days of his premiership. A Commons statement on his plans for overhauling the constitution, originally planned for yesterday, had to be delayed for 24 hours.