NI firms urged to seek training for the 'age of terrorism'
Northern Ireland may well have to deal with a mass terrorist incident, according to an international security expert.
Steve Collins, Chief Executive of PSO5, says that it's highly likely an attack will be carried out here sometime in the future, given recent events in the UK.
Traditionally, NI has had to deal with incidents of domestic terrorism, with bomb warnings often phoned in.
However, Mr Collins, in partnership with Mercury Security Management, is trying to prepare businesses and people here for what to do in the event of an attack like that on the London Bridge and Borough Markets.
That takes the form of a one day intensive course on teaching people how to react in that situation and how to make the most of their environment.
"Well, over the last three months, there has been three major incidents on the mainland UK, and there really isn't any reason that it couldn't happen in Northern Ireland at some point," he said.
"Pretty much every country in the world has been targeted.
"The places that are being targeted are what are known as 'soft targets', places like shopping and sports centres, hospitals etc.
"These are the people that neeed some information on what to do in that situation.
"The idea of this is not to be training people to be special operatives.
"It's a simple plan of things people should know in order to protect themselves in a terrorist incident."
Local businesses attended the launch of the security course and heard what the joint venture between Mercury and PSO5 was offering.
Bobby Nicholson is head of NI Regional Shopping Centres and said it's something that they have been exploring, as it is a different threat to what the region has faced in the past.
"We can't identify it and we need to know how to act against this new threat," he said.
"We've seen that there's been knife and lorry attacks among others and we need to be able to train our staff in how to identify this and how to react in the event that it does happen."
Frank Cullen, CEO of Mercury, said he hoped it would reassure people worried by recent events.
"To the ordinary people out there, it's about what to do before the police get there, it's about self-preservation," he said.
"It's really raising the awareness of the different styles of attack that can be carried out.
"There are simpler attacks than a lorry or knife, for instance, someone could use a water pistol loaded with acid, so it's about making people aware of differing threats.
"I know retailers are busy people, so the courses are sort and intensive, and the question I'm asking is what value do you put on life?
"As far as I'm concerned, this four hour course could save lives."