A senior Metropolitan Police official has warned Londoners and visitors to the capital to “be on alert, panic” in crowded places. Christmas,
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations Matt Twist urged people to be ‘alert’ and look for anything that is unusual, suspicious or related.
Britain’s terrorism threat was raised to ‘serious’ following terrorist attacks in Liverpool and Essex, meaning an attack is ‘highly likely’.
Assistant Commissioner Twist described this year’s festivities as ‘the first proper Christmas we have in a few years’ due to last year’s. coronavirus Sanctions.
He added: ‘There will be a lot of places that are busy. A lot of places are about to get back on their feet, a lot of crowded places, a lot of gatherings.
‘It’s all about being alert, not panicking.’
A senior Metropolitan Police official has warned Londoners and visitors to the capital ahead of Christmas to “be on alert, panic” in crowded places. In the picture, shoppers flock to Oxford Street on Saturday to start Christmas shopping and watch the lights
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations Matt Twist urges people to be ‘alert’ and look for anything unusual, suspicious or related
Assistant Commissioner Twist also mentioned the car crash at a Christmas parade in Wisconsin that killed at least five people as he stressed the importance of planning ahead to officials ahead of the busy time of year.
He told Nick Ferrari on LBC radio: ‘It’s about vigilance. In the UK a lot of work has been done before meetings and before events.
‘We ask our security officers to do things like vehicle mitigation or put up barriers, or limit people’s exposure.’
He said the Wisconsin incident does not appear to be terrorism-related based on preliminary media reports.
He urged the public to report anything suspicious to the police in preparation for Christmas, adding: ‘We want people to be vigilant, to look for unusual things, to look for things that may be suspicious, they should be concerned. can.
‘It could be anything from a bag that’s in the wrong place – I think the public is well aware of that sort of thing – but to stuff in their home or family life, their friends left behind or untouched Done, or were making related comments.
‘It’s all about getting ahead of it. If you report something, the message is: You’re not going to ruin anyone’s life, but you can only save one.’
Assistant Commissioner Twist also referred to a car accident during a Christmas parade in Wisconsin that killed at least five people. Pictured: A young girl dressed in all pink is seen enjoying the holiday parade on Sunday as a red SUV barrels down the street
Assistant Commissioner Twist also asked people to report suspicious purchases for Christmas after it was revealed that the Liverpool attacker had begun collecting items for an explosives device in April.
He said: ‘What we are seeing is for the public to be alert to things that look unusual.
‘Why are there people living in your street that you haven’t seen before, buying large amounts of chemicals, or any chemicals that seem suspicious?
‘Why would people be doing this? If it happens for a long time, instead of putting it in your mind, please report what we are saying.’
The UK’s chief assistant commissioner for counter-terrorism policing, Matt Jukes, previously said the public would increase police presence in key locations and that officers would promote their work online following the attack in Liverpool.
Officers from the Met, City of London Police and British Transport Police are carrying out additional patrols in busy and crowded places across London as the threat of terrorism escalates.
These armed and unarmed patrols are set to continue in the coming weeks, many of which take place in or near Christmas events, busy shopping areas and transportation hubs.
Anti-terrorism patrols are also being intensified over the Christmas and New Year period involving specially trained officers.
The weather police said expert counter-terrorism security advisors are also working closely with event organizers and venue owners, advising them on what security measures they can take to keep their visitors and customers safe this festive season. can do.
The warning to the public comes after Britain’s terrorism threat was raised to ‘serious’, meaning an attack is ‘highly likely’, following last weekend’s terror attack in Liverpool
Following the raising of the terror threat level following the Liverpool attack, armed police patrols will be increased and security plans for key events will be reviewed. Above: Armed officers outside Number 10 Downing Street in London last Tuesday
Assistant Commissioner Twist said: ‘It’s been two years since we’ve been able to get together and enjoy all the festivities of London with some degree of ‘normalcy’.
‘But, sadly, we have seen two terrorist attacks in Essex and Merseyside in the past few weeks, and as a result, the terrorism threat level has been raised from ‘substantial’ to ‘severe’.
‘That’s why it’s important that people remain vigilant, and report anything that may seem out of place or suspicious.
‘I want to emphasize that the heightened danger level is not specific to the capital, so people should still go out and enjoy everything London has to offer at this time of year.
‘But I would say be vigilant, and help us keep you safe by being our extra eyes and ears. If you see or hear something that doesn’t seem right, trust your instincts and report it.’
In the past year, around 10,000 reports from the public across the UK about suspected terrorist activity have been made to counter terrorism authorities.
If you see something suspicious, either tell a police officer, report it online through www.gov.uk/ACT or call the confidential counter-terrorism hotline on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, call 999.
,