So called 'lone wolf' terror attacks pose a risk to the North East
Counter-terrorism expert warns of threat.
Following co-ordinated terror attacks in Paris, Brussels and Istanbul the UK has been on high alert, but experts now say it could be so called "lone-wolf" acts of terrorism that pose the biggest threat to us.
A nightclub in Orlando hit the headlines earlier this month after a shooter, who was later claimed to be an Islamic State fighter, opened fire, killing 49 people. It’s attacks like this that have prompted concern form security experts around the world, worried that similar attacks could happen elsewhere.
Helen Fenwick is a Durham University professor, specialising in Counter-terrorism she explains why she think’s terrorist groups may begin to opt for these kinds of attacks:
“A co-ordinated attack will involve a number of people and take longer to plan and so there is a great possibility of it being discovered beforehand. Also, co-ordinated attacks in general are more resource intensive.”
Helen thinks we could see more and more attacks of this nature. She added that they’re harder to trace, prevent and police than co-ordinated attacks on a larger scale:
“It’s extremely difficult for police and security services to detect these attacks and the lack of planning needed means there’s less chance of intervention. You can have security at certain venues and high profile events but you can’t possibly have security at every single venue.”
She also has concerns over the ability of the region’s police forces to respond to a terrorist situation in the North East:
“If a terrorism related hostage situation occurred, how fast would an armed response unit be able to get there, because that’s the only way the situation could be bought to an end. The government needs to be looking into funding of police forces in regions like the North East, which aren’t necessarily considered to be that high on the list of places to target”