Home Secretary John Reid recently told us what we already know to be true... “Europe,” opined Reid, “is now facing a persistent and very real threat from terrorism.” The 7/7 suicide bombings in London really pushed counter-terrorism up the European Union agenda post-9/11, helping Reid’s predecessor Charles Clarke to clinch a deal that has since forced companies to retain telephone and e-mail data for use in investigations. It’s a small win.

We should perhaps not be too surprised that the terrorists are now targeting our transport networks. Paralyse travel routes – be they mapped out on land, sea or across the skies – and you damage the host country’s commercial interests. A sinister form of attack that wreaks complete havoc.

Having callously killed and wounded many of London’s Underground and bus users last year, the terrorists let it be known that they are still very much in our midst by way of the alleged ‘bottle bombing’ attempts. Their actions duly brought our major airports to a virtual standstill. Passengers have been barred from carrying hand luggage on board – save for the bare essentials.

Draconian? Perhaps, but wouldn’t you rather know it was safe to board an aeroplane because every security precaution has been taken? The passengers on El Al Airlines have been faced with the most stringent security checks for years, and we don’t hear them complaining.

Crucially, this most recent alert has raised the question of how far security measures have been tightened since 9/11, and what weaknesses remain.

Apparently, new surveillance devices being worked on by systems gurus include 360-degree body scanners, updated thermal imaging systems and automated technology to pick up erratic behaviour from CCTV footage. Their introduction cannot come soon enough.

Source

SMT