A university expert has warned attacks similar to the Manchester bombing will ‘become commonplace’.
Natasha Underhill, course leader for International Relations at Nottingham Trent University, said she was concerned a ‘fear factor’ had set following the Manchester attack.
At least 22 people were killed and 59 injured when a suicide bomber targeted fans as they left an Ariana Grande concert.
She said: “What we are seeing now is ‘soft’ attacks, not on political institutions, or embassies but instead on concerts or Christmas markets.
“We shouldn’t be shocked about what we see now, sadly it’s going to become commonplace, first London now Manchester. The response from security services was quick, I understand 60 ambulances were on the scene last night which shows we have a solid infrastructure when things like this happen.
“It’s tough to prevent this kind of lone wolf, they are hard to target. You can track groups but it’s not the same.”
Ms Underhill added she believes extra security will be needed to prevent future attacks, but not to the extent of constant lock downs on events.
Only cowards would target children in this way, no matter the reason this is not the way to further a case. Disgusting inhumane individual https://t.co/GgLmLGXbpj
— natasha underhill (@natyaunderhill) May 23, 2017
“The most important thing is not to feed into fear, we need to go about our normal lives as much as we can,” she added.
“If we have more lockdowns at events it will feed into the cause, which is to spread hate. It is a target against our civil liberties and we can’t let them win.”
She added events in the city would need extra planning in future.
She said: “We have events like Splendour coming up [in July], so there needs to be more caution, and also some common sense. We might need extra security in future at the arena or even the theatres but we can’t let people think they are being punished for others’ actions.
“Terror comes from ideologies and you can’t just get rid of that, it lives beyond. We need to be strategic, not with force but perhaps soft power, or education rather than leading with the military arm.”
