London Anticipated Terrorist Attack

London Anticipated Terrorist Attack

A terrorist attack on a city changes the way that city views its security policies and structures. After September 11, the United States stepped up security and emergency management in almost every way imaginable, but Americans probably did not suspect the attack would change the way London viewed their protection of Parliament.

“[Parliament] is always open to any lunatic with a fanatical outlook on life to mount an attack against innocent people in pursuit of their fixations and we have to be ever grateful to those who defend us on the perimeter of this building … which has been anticipating this possibility ever since 11 September 2001,” Julian Lewis, the Conservative MP who chairs parliament’s defense committee told a reporter for the Guardian. “We were recalled to parliament for an emergency session on Friday 14 September, and that was the first time we had he presence of police armed with sub machine guns openly guarding the Palace of Westminster - and they’ve been here ever since.”

London’s law enforcement is famously known for not carrying firearms with them, something that changed after 9/11 and has been continuously changing since the attacks on Paris, Brussels and Nice in the recent years.

After each and every terrorist attack, the city re-evaluated its stance on security, changing its procedures to be ready for multiple attacks at once like the events in Paris, stepping up security at areas of public transportation as result of the attack on Brussels airport and train station and even attempting to be more vigilant of vehicle attacks following the events in Nice and Berlin.

The attack in London is a tragedy, but not one that the London police and emergency crews were not ready for. London Ambulance twitter account said their emergency crews were on the scene in less than six minutes and the alleged attacker was shot and killed within minutes of leaving his or her vehicle, after stabbing a police officer just inside the gates of Parliament. Had this shooting not taken place, there could have been more casualties at the hand of the attacker armed with a knife.

“The Government’s top priority is the security of the people and I urge everyone to remain calm but to be vigilant and if they see anything they are concerned about they should report it to the police,” Home Secretary Amber Rudd said. “We have the best police, the best security services in the world and we must make sure that we let them get on with doing their job.”

Like the United States and other countries around the world that have been victimized by terror attacks, the UK will not fear terrorism, according to Rudd.

“The British people will be united in working together to defeat those who would harm our shared values,” Rudd said. “Values of democracy, tolerance and the rule of law. Values symbolized by the Houses of Parliament. Values that will never be destroyed."

Featured

  • Survey: 54% of Organizations Cite Technical Debt as Top Hurdle to Identity System Modernization

    Modernizing identity systems is proving difficult for organizations due to two key challenges: decades of accumulated Identity and Access Management (IAM) technical debt and the complexity of managing access across multiple identity providers (IDPs). These findings come from the new Strata Identity-commissioned report, State of Multi-Cloud Identity: Insights and Trends for 2025. The report, based on survey data from the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), highlights trends and challenges in securing cloud environments. The CSA is the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. Read Now

  • Study: Only 35 Percent of Companies Include Cybersecurity Teams When Implementing AI

    Only 35 percent of cybersecurity professionals or teams are involved in the development of policy governing the use of AI technology in their enterprise, and nearly half (45 percent) report no involvement in the development, onboarding, or implementation of AI solutions, according to the recently released 2024 State of Cybersecurity survey report from ISACA, a global professional association advancing trust in technology. Read Now

  • New Report Series Highlights E-Commerce Threats, Fraud Against Retailers

    Trustwave, a cybersecurity and managed security services provider, recently released a series of reports detailing the threats facing the retail sector, marking the second year of its ongoing research into these critical security issues. Read Now

  • Stay Secure in 2024: Updated Cybersecurity Tips for the Office and at Home

    Cyber criminals get more inventive every year. Cybersecurity threats continue to evolve and are a moving target for business owners in 2024. Companies large and small need to employ cybersecurity best practices throughout their organization. That includes security integrators, manufacturers, and end users. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis. 3

  • PE80 Series

    PE80 Series by SARGENT / ED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin

    ASSA ABLOY, a global leader in access solutions, has announced the launch of two next generation exit devices from long-standing leaders in the premium exit device market: the PE80 Series by SARGENT and the PED4000/PED5000 Series by Corbin Russwin. These new exit devices boast industry-first features that are specifically designed to provide enhanced safety, security and convenience, setting new standards for exit solutions. The SARGENT PE80 and Corbin Russwin PED4000/PED5000 Series exit devices are engineered to meet the ever-evolving needs of modern buildings. Featuring the high strength, security and durability that ASSA ABLOY is known for, the new exit devices deliver several innovative, industry-first features in addition to elegant design finishes for every opening. 3

  • Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden CV-7600 High Security Card Readers

    Camden Door Controls has relaunched its CV-7600 card readers in response to growing market demand for a more secure alternative to standard proximity credentials that can be easily cloned. CV-7600 readers support MIFARE DESFire EV1 & EV2 encryption technology credentials, making them virtually clone-proof and highly secure. 3