Manchester attack exposes vulnerability of public events

LONDON: The suicide attack on a Manchester pop concert has sparked criticism about security, but experts said it highlighted the daunting task authorities face in neutralising those bent on destruction, reports AFP.
Police confirmed Tuesday that youngsters were among the 22 victims killed when a suspected lone suicide bomber targeted people leaving a concert by US star Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena in northern England.
The attack raised immediate comparisons with the assault on the Bataclan theatre in Paris in November 2015 that left 90 dead, with concert-goers to Monday's event wondering why they underwent few security checks.
Witness Chris Pawley told Fox News that "I've been to concerts before and sometimes you get patted down, or have to empty your pockets. There was absolutely nothing at this concert tonight, we literally just got our ticket scanned and were straight in."Twitter user "Cellie" wrote: "security is not good at Manchester Arena, no one was checking our bags or jackets," although concert-goer James disputed the claims to Sky News, saying "bags were checked security was really, really good."Manchester Arena stressed the incident had taken place "outside the venue in a public place", suggesting that the attacker had exploited a weak point by targeting the venue's foyer area, which connects to the Victoria train and tram station."Several indicators point to the fact that the attack was meticulously planned, and is likely to have involved more than one individual," said Kit Nicholl, security analyst at IHS Markit."The positioning of the suicide bomber at the time of detonation, which maximised casualties within an enclosed space while also managing to evade security checks, suggests that a significant amount of planning had gone into the operation," she added.By waiting for guests to leave through the security ring before detonating, the attacker had illustrated "the vulnerability of such mass gatherings despite security measures in place at the venues themselves," according to Otso Iho from Jane's Terrorism & Insurgency Centre (JTIC).

 

Manchester attack exposes vulnerability of public events

LONDON: The suicide attack on a Manchester pop concert has sparked criticism about security, but experts said it highlighted the daunting task authorities face in neutralising those bent on destruction, reports AFP. Police confirmed Tuesday that youngsters were among the 22 victims killed when a suspected lone suicide bomber targeted people leaving a concert by US star Ariana Grande at the Manchester Arena in northern England. The attack raised immediate comparisons with the assault on the Bataclan theatre in Paris in November 2015 that left 90 dead, with concert-goers to Mondays event wondering why they underwent few security checks. Witness Chris Pawley told Fox News that Ive been to concerts before and sometimes you get patted down, or have to empty your pockets. There was absolutely nothing at this concert tonight, we literally just got our ticket scanned and were straight in.Twitter user Cellie wrote: security is not good at Manchester Arena, no one was checking our bags or jackets, although concert-goer James disputed the claims to Sky News, saying bags were checked security was really, really good.Manchester Arena stressed the incident had taken place outside the venue in a public place, suggesting that the attacker had exploited a weak point by targeting the venues foyer area, which connects to the Victoria train and tram station.Several indicators point to the fact that the attack was meticulously planned, and is likely to have involved more than one individual, said Kit Nicholl, security analyst at IHS Markit.The positioning of the suicide bomber at the time of detonation, which maximised casualties within an enclosed space while also managing to evade security checks, suggests that a significant amount of planning had gone into the operation, she added.By waiting for guests to leave through the security ring before detonating, the attacker had illustrated the vulnerability of such mass gatherings despite security measures in place at the venues themselves, according to Otso Iho from Janes Terrorism Insurgency Centre (JTIC).