A frightening level of terror

Britain is no stranger to acts of terrorism but the latest apparent suicide bomber attack in Manchester takes terrorist activity to a new and frightening level.

During the 1970s, the Official Irish Republican Army and the Provisional IRA were responsible for killing and injuring many in the quest for independence from Great Britain. Even into the mid-2000s, various versions of the IRA were carrying out targeted attacks on Government buildings and pubs known to be frequented by British Army personnel.

In 2005, that changed when on July 7, central London bombings were conducted by four separate Islamist extremist suicide bombers, who targeted civilians using the public transport system during the morning rush hour. Three bombs were detonated on three separate trains on the London Underground and one on a double-decker bus. Fifty-six people were killed and 700 were injured. It was the United Kingdom's worst terrorist incident since the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and the first Islamist suicide attack in the country.

Since then, a British soldier, Lee Rigby, was murdered in an attack in Woolwich by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, two Islamist extremists armed with a handgun and a number of bladed implements.

A man with a knife attacked three people at Leytonstone Tube Station in East London. The attacker was 29-year-old Muhaydin Mire who was shouting ''this is for Syria''.

And last year, Labour MP Jo Cox (41) was killed by Thomas Mair (52), who shouted ''Britain first'' during the attack, according to testimony given in court.

In March, Khalid Masood, a 52-year-old British man, born in Kent as Adrian Elms, drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before crashing the vehicle into the Palace of Westminster's perimeter. He then entered the grounds of the Palace of Westminster, the meeting place of the Houses of Parliament, before being confronted by a police officer, whom he fatally stabbed before being shot himself. The attack, which left four dead and more than 50 injured, is being treated as an act of terrorism motivated by Islamic extremism.

And now, at least 22 people are reported killed and more than 50 injured after an explosion in the foyer area of a crowded Manchester concert hall. The initial theory is a suicide bomber is behind the suspected terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena. Police said they were dealing with a possible terror incident and counter-terrorism officials are assessing what caused the explosion.

A concert by the American pop singer Ariana Grande was being staged at the time. Crucially, many young people - some aged as young as 6 - were attending the concert with their parents or older siblings, making the attack even more difficult to comprehend. This is a new twist in the warped minds of lone wolf terrorists. The difficulty for authorities is trying to understand where and when those single-minded terrorists are likely to undertake such acts of depravity.

As Islamic State gets squeezed by advancing forces, it is forced to use different methods to attack the West. Radicalised, or even disillusioned young people, make easy converts to the idea of killing themselves for the glory of a cause - any cause.

Concert venues are ideal targets, just as they were in Paris. A group of people enjoying themselves unfortunately discovered the worst side of humanity.

The United States is already implementing stringent checks for air travellers who are unable to take laptops on board from some specific destinations. Other countries, with direct routes to the US, are considering their actions.

New Zealand may seem a long way from the type of attack carried out in Manchester. But in truth, this country is only one long flight away from hotbeds of fundamentalist extremists.

The end of innocence was signalled some time ago but this latest attack delves deeper into the psyche of disturbed minds.

Security measures, already intrusive for innocent travellers or stadium attendees, will become even more stringent. The rise of lone wolf attacks will signal a further, yet hopefully temporary, restriction on the freedom of many.

Comments

It would be an uncooperative individual who objected to intrusive security. That's what it takes. As well, airlines should be supplied with information on potential risk. A passenger discharged the night before from a mental health facility should be flagged on systems.

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