Terrorism at International Airports
Introduction
The security of the populations remains a major concern for security administrators, managers, and other stakeholders interested in public safety. Despite this, various populations drawn from different contexts remain vulnerable to insecurity. Terrorism occurs as one of the major factors that have and continue to jeopardize the safety of the populations. Terrorist has mastered the art of revolutionizing various factors to suit their terror activities. As an example, terrorists have mastered the use of technological innovations to breach security measures established in various contexts. The success of terror attacks is greatly dependent on the plan devised by the terror master minds. A reflection on various settings portrays the fact that airports are often more vulnerable to various terrorist attacks than other contexts (Harrison, 2009) On March 22, 2016, the world woke up to the heartbreaking news of a terror attack at Brussels Airport, Belgium, which left close 34 people dead and scores of others injured. This attack depicts the fact that airports remain more prone to terror attacks.
Discussion
Problem
In a nutshell, terrorism at international airports is a major problem due to various factors. More importantly, an analysis of trends on matters aligned with terrorism points to the fact that a significant portion of attacks often occurs in the airports. It is of the essence to realize that terrorist often prefers air strikes due to ease of execution and the fact that it can result in massive casualties. For this purpose, the only means through which terrorist can succeed in air attacks is by by-passing or breaking through the security measures at various airports. Increased security measures on land, which has been instigated by various states make it difficult for a terrorist to wage attacks. In retaliation, terrorist prefers commercial aviation as the most viable avenue for their attacks. It has also been argued that terror attacks on international airports give the terrorist groups a symbolic value. This is because, in the event of such attacks, the international media focus on the attacks; hence, giving the terrorist an underserved attention (Great Britain & Great Britain, 2010).
Why we should Care
The above analysis depicts the fact that terrorism at international airports is a major security concern. Therefore, various nations should consider the need to enhance security at the airports as a means of dwarfing airstrikes and airport attacks waged by the terrorist. After the recent terrorist attacks in Brussels, various international airports across the world have enhanced their security. This is because it is apparent that terrorist is more likely to attack the airports at any given time. The security measures instigated on land; that is at the airports, forms the greatest challenge for a successful terror attack on international airports. Overall, every government should be concerned with the security of its airports. Conclusively, airport security occurs as the last option for terrorist seeking to wage attacks on international airports. Terror attacks on airports is not a new phenomenon (Sweet, 2008). The most common form of terror operations used by terrorists in airports is suicide bombing and hijacking in cases where the terrorist manage to board a plane.
Patterns and Trends
An analysis of patterns and trends related to airport attacks points to the fact that attacks by terrorists on airports occur through the use of pretense by the terrorist. In most cases, the terrorists disguise themselves as airport security agents whereby they use fabricated law enforcement badges. Besides, the terrorist use fake law enforcement credentials to attain access to protected areas. In a nutshell, terrorist attacking international airports use fake means to bypass security checkpoints. As a result, the terrorist can gain access to departure gates, whereby they can board the plane and wage their attacks with ease. As previously mentioned herein, terror attacks on international airports often entail systematic planning by the terror masterminds. Such planning has been evident during different attacks on international airports whereby the terrorists often appear to have an adequate understanding of various features of the airports (Harrison, 2009). Evidence suggest to the fact that there might be terror insiders working with airport authorities who often inform the terrorist on the security protocols and other features attributed to the airports.
Despite the obvious knowledge that critical areas in airports deserve keen security attention, there is a need to note that a significant portion of terror attacks on the airports occur through these points. Such critical points include ground servicing areas, ground transportation from and to the airports, in-flight security, and airport perimeters. A case example that shows the fact that these critical points offer an entry point for terrorists in the case Osama Shublaq; a Palestinian national who entered a Singapore-bound flight in the year 2007 in Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia. Evidence from an inquest into the attack indicate that Osama entered the airport via the drains whereby he managed to enter the flight. The terrorist gained access to the airport by scaling the perimeter fence of the airport. The case of Osama depicts the porous nature of airport security, which can easily be infiltrated and attacked by terror attacks. For this purpose, adequate security at the critical points should always be guaranteed. The use of CCTV cameras at the critical points is not adequate. In the case of Osama, the CCTV cameras show the footage, but little action was done to prevent Osama’s attack on the plane. This analysis depicts a trend that accesses to airport by the terrorist is facilitated by the inadequate security measures at the airports critical points.
Risk Factors associated with the Problem
As previously connoted herein, the security measures instigated at the airports offer a comprehensive means through which terror attacks in airports can be averted. However, there are certain factors that predispose airports to terror attacks. More importantly, human fallibility has been identified as one of the major risks factors that render airports vulnerable to terror attacks. Speaking of human fallibility, this connotes to imperfections or errors that can be attributed to security personnel at the airports. Security at various entry and exit points remains crucial. However, human fallibility results in an inadequate screening of persons entering as well as those leaving the secure sites. Conclusively, manning of entry and exit points within airports require a high level of diligence. Many at times, security personnel manning the airports remain ignorant oblivious of the fact that terrorists are always looking for a little security hitch before they wage attacks. On another note, there is a need to comprehend that there are certain technological innovations that are used to enhance security at the airports such as those used to screen passenger luggage (Great Britain & Great Britain, 2010). Such technological innovations are often prone to errors, which can jeopardize security at the airports. In most cases, personnel tasked with the colossal role of managing these technological innovations fail to ensure that they remain functional at all times. This often results in failure of the technological innovations; hence, jeopardizing airport security from eminent terror attacks.
Another risk factor that renders airports vulnerable to terror attacks is complacency. Despite the long-standing history of terror attacks in international airports, there exists a pertinent notion that terrorists are yet to penetrate the airports. There exists a high level of overconfidence amongst various personnel tasked with the role of ensuring adequate security at the airports. Overall, the security at the airports sometimes expresses a high level of complacency with the existing security measures, which creates the notion that terrorist attacks on airports will never happen. This creates a viable avenue whereby terrorist can wage a successful attack on the airports (Harrison, 2009). The varying levels of security at the airports is another risk factor for terror attacks. A reflection on security at various airports depicts the fact that smaller airports have limited security than large airports. Many at times, people harbor the notion that smaller airports are not prone to attacks; hence, the reason as to why security at smaller airports is not adequate. Such a notion is flawed because all airports irrespective of their size are prone to terror attacks. Overall, all airports are viable terrorist targets. Due to limited security in smaller airports, terrorists can easily infiltrate the smaller airports and use them as conduits of attacking the larger airports.
Preventing the Problem
As the world tries to comprehend with the attacks at Brussels Airport and other past attacks on international airports, there are various security measures that can be established and implemented as a means of averting such attacks in the future. One of the most comprehensive preventive measures is to increase the number of military personnel and police providing security at the international airports. The problem with various government is that they wait for an attack to happen at a given place that is when they can deploy more security personnel at the airports. After the recent airport attack in Brussels, various nations have enhanced security measures at their airports. Such a retrospective approach is not effective in addressing terrorism in international airports. The security personnel at the airports should be adequate all the times, not only during times of attack (Sweet, 2008). A limited number of personnel manning security at the airports places a huge workload on the personnel. The emergence of private security firms offer a viable means though which governments can utilize to improve security at the airports. Precisely, government military and police forces should collaborate with private security personnel to work together in preventing terror attacks at the airports. Intelligence gathering also provides an ample means through which airport attacks by terrorists can be prevented. Aviation security personnel need to engage in intelligence gathering operations aimed at detecting terror threats promptly. Timely detection of impending terror attacks offers a viable means through which such attacks can be easily averted (Great Britain & Great Britain, 2010). In a nutshell, airports should always collate data on their vulnerabilities to terror attacks. Such data provides an ample means through which terrorism in international airports can be prevented.
Conclusion
In conclusion, international airports across the world remain vulnerable to terror attacks. The most effective way through which terrorism can be prevented is through the adoption of a more proactive security approach. A more proactive security approach focuses on thorough security at all times. As an example, such an approach would recommend random security checks at certain points within the airport. Conclusively, airport security should always be enhanced to prevent terror attacks that can result in various fatalities.
References
Great Britain. & Great Britain. (2010). Counter-terrorism measures in British airports: Ninth report of session 2009-10: report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence. London: Stationery Office.
Harrison, J. (2009). International Aviation and Terrorism: Evolving Threats, Evolving Security. London: Routledge.
Sweet, K. (2008). Aviation and Airport Security: Terrorism and Safety Concerns, Second Edition, New York: CRC Press.
