Counter Terror Business 2

Reducing the threat of attacks on crowded places

With the FIFA World Cup underway, South African security forces are on high alert after reports of planned terror attacks during the event. Iraqi police have arrested a high-ranking army officer from Saudi Arabia who is accused of planning an attack, and with Pakistani and Somali militants allegedly running terror training camps in northern Mozambique, it has been suggested that trainees from these camps may have crossed into South Africa to join or form cells planning World Cup attacks. With crowds of 30,000-60,000 at each game the impact of an attack could be very serious.

Efforts to reduce the vulnerability of crowded places is high on the agenda for the National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO), who on page 9 discusses the need for the business community to understand the terrorist threat and the importance of putting defensive measures in place before an attack. In this issue we also have the Perimeter Security Suppliers Association raising some important questions relating to the use of the highest security perimeter products (p. 15), and of course we preview the most important security events coming up, such as the APA-ACPO National Policing Conference, Security Essen and Transport Security Expo.

Enjoy the issue.

Sofie Lidefjard, editor