It is possible to increase security at airports and subway in Europe. “But it would require major intervention in the infrastructure,” says terrorism expert Magnus Norell.
In today’s bloody explosions in Brussels were terrorists target the subway and the airport.
What is their purpose?
– There is nothing new in it at all. In this Islamist threat included beating against infrastructure, against soft targets – which many people move. It has been a stated goal for decades. Then you get to great effect, many can be injured and killed.
That said Magnus Norell, a researcher specializing in terrorism and which, among other things tied to the think tank The European Foundation for Democracy, which is based in particular Brussels .
Are there any ways to increase protection for travelers? How do we protect ourselves?
– In an open society, it is difficult. Anyone who has flown to and from Brussels knows that there are no checks and no security at the entrances. It’s just like at the airport and many other places as well.
Should security be higher at the entrances?
– It depends on where you put the bar. But if you fly from Tel Aviv in Israel, they have a system where you stopped and checked on the way in the airport area. They check that you do not have weapons or bomb on themselves.
But to establish similar controls at home would require major interventions in infrastructure, he states.
To deploy more security checks on a airport would perhaps be less complicated than the use of security checks at the entrances to the subway where millions of people pass daily, he notes. It would be long lines.
– If you have an open society, then it’s of course difficult.
Today’s deeds – they may have been retaliation for the arrest of the suspected terrorist Salah Abdeslam, who is believed to be involved in the Paris attacks in November 2015? Or was planned a long time ago?
– I think there may be a link to the arrest, but the – the people were there, the logistics were there, so the attacks were planned, said Magnus Norell.
– this Monday also warned the deputy prime minister of the country that there was a high risk of terrorist attack in Brussels. And even before that, there was of course a threat. I do not think anyone in the Belgian security service or the police are particularly surprised by this.
But it did not close the subway as in the past when the attack was imminent?
– No, it’s a constantly balancing what to do. It depends in turn on what evidence you have.
How can terrorist cells remain hidden, dodge security police radar?
– We may not know everything that the security services do. When you look at the attacks that took place earlier, some of the people were known to police. But no, I would say, no, have the resources to cover all potential terrorists in the community.
– The risk of slip between your fingers, because you simply have to prioritize. But sometimes it also appeared people in networks that are not known. They become impossible to find unless you have terrible luck. It is difficult, therefore – and resources are therefore not to follow everyone.
So far, the Belgian police not established that today’s terrorists were. But evidence suggests that Islamists are behind, including their modus operandi.
– Belgian sources pointing to it. But we do not know who carried out the attacks yet. But the point is that the threat from Islamists around for a while.
In Belgium, it is now reported French border have been closed, Belgian Crisis Centre calls on Twitter citizens to stay at home, companies and workplaces shut down. The ongoing “lockdown” in the fight against terror.
– But the Islamist environments in Belgium has had time to settle in decades. Efforts to reach them will take a long time, said Magnus Norell.
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