The security of the worlds populations remains a major concern for security administrators, managers, and other stakeholders interested in public safety. Despite this honorary effort, various populations drawn from different contexts remain vulnerable to insecurity and terrorism (Harrison, 2009). Terrorism occurs as one of the major factors that have and continue to jeopardize the safety of the world. Terrorist organizations have mastered the art of revolutionizing various factors to suit their terror activities (Harrison, 2009). Terrorism has been on the rise very frequently over the past decade throughout the world as well as in the United States. As an example, terrorists have perfected the use of technological innovations to breach security measures established in various situations (Harrison, 2009). The success of terror attacks is greatly dependent on the plan devised by the terror organizational leader. A reflection on various settings portrays the fact that airports are often more vulnerable to various terrorist attacks than other locations or sites (Harrison, 2009). Many attacks portray the fact that the majority of our country's airports remains just as prone to terror attacks, as any other public transportation centres.
Terrorism at international airports is a major problem due to a number of various factors. Most importantly, an analysis of trends on matters aligned with terrorism points to the fact that a significant portion of attacks often occurs at the airports or anything to do with public transportation such as aircrafts, trains and subways (Sweet, 2004). September 11, 2001 was a huge impact on our society as a country when it comes to high powered terrorism. The bombings in Paris just last recently is another horrible reminder that terrorism still haunts the world. And just a couple days ago, 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 (Sweet, 2004). It is necessary to realize that terrorists often prefer air strikes or aircraft type terrorism, due to ease of execution and the fact that it can result in massive casualties (Sweet, 2004). For this purpose, the only means through which terrorists can succeed in air attacks is by by-passing or breaking through the security measures at various airports (Harrison, 2009). This has been a major concern for our airport's safety over the last couple years. Increased security measures on land have been developed, which has been instigated by various states make it difficult for a terrorist to wage attacks on the ground (Sweet, 2004). In improvising, terrorists prefer 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 more symbolic meaning, to that of their preferred religion and a higher power. This is because, in the event of such attacks, the international media focus on the attacks themselves; hence, giving the terrorists undeserved attention (Britain, 2010). Many can speculate that this is one of the major reasons of these terrible attacks. The violent offenders seek out attention, praise and fame through the media as their efforts for terrorism increase (Addicott & Addicott, 2004).
The above analysis points to 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 extinguishing airstrike's and airport attacks waged by the terrorist groups (Harrison, 2009). After the recent terrorist attacks in Brussels, various international airports across the world have enhanced their security. This is primarily a focal point because it is evident that terrorists are more expected to attack the airports more than any public location at any given time. For this reason, all nations are called upon to take up the duty of enhancing security at their home airports (Addicott & Addicott, 2004). The security measures instigated on land; that is, at the airports, forms the greatest challenge for a successful terror attack on international airports (Harrison, 2009). Overall, every government should be concerned with the security of its airports.Decisively, airport security occurs as the last option for terrorists seeking to wage attacks on international airports. Terror attacks on airports is not a new phenomenon (Sweet, 2004). The most common form of terror operations used by terrorists in airports is suicide bombing and hijacking, in which the terrorists manage to board a plane, take over the vessel and then destroy it (Sweet, 2004).
An analysis of patterns and movements related to airport attacks points to the fact that attacks by terrorists in airports occur through the use of pretense by the terrorist organization. In most cases, the terrorists disguise themselves as airport security agents whereby they use false law enforcement badges Moreover, other terrorists disguise themselves as religious women and men (Trapp, 2011). Besides, the terrorists also use fake law enforcement credentials to attain access to many protected areas throughout the airport. Altogether, terrorist attacking international airports use fake means to bypass security checkpoints. As a result, terrorists can gain access to the departure gates, whereby then they can board the plane and wage their attacks with ease (Sweet, 2004). As previously mentioned, terror attacks on international airports often entail thorough planning by their terror leader or organization. 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). The evidence suggests that there might be undercover 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 occurs through these points. The rates of terrorism increases everyday at the airports due to the increased involvement of many people in the Airport affairs (Trapp, 2011). 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 is seen in the case Osama Shublaq, a Palestinian national who entered a Singapore-bound flight in the year 2007 in Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia (Trapp, 2011). Evidence from an inquest into the attack indicate that Osama entered the airport through the drains in which he managed to enter the flight. Osama gained access to the airport by scaling the perimeter fence of the airport (Harrison, 2009). The case of Osama depicts the porous nature of airport security, which can easily be infiltrated and attacked by any foreign invader. For this purpose, adequate security at the critical points should always be guaranteed (Harrison, 2009). The use of CCTV cameras at the critical points is not always available. 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 the airport by the terrorist is facilitated by the inadequate security measures at the airports critical points (Harrison, 2009).
As previously stated earlier, 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 prompt airports to terror attacks (Addicott & Addicott, 2004). More importantly, human inaccuracy has been identified as one of the major risks factors that render airports vulnerable to terror attacks. Speaking of human in accuracy, this brings imperfections or errors that can be attributed to security personnel at the airports (Sweet, 2004). Security at various entry and exit points remains crucial. However, human unreliability results in an inadequate screening of persons entering as well as those leaving the secure sites. Conclusively, meaning of entry and exit points within airports require a high level of attentiveness (Addicott & Addicott, 2004). A lot of times, security personnel manning the airports remain ignorant and 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 advancements that are used to enhance security at the airports such as those used to screen passenger luggage (Britain, 2010). Such technological innovations are often prone to errors, which can jeopardize security at the airports. In most cases, personnel tasked with the enormous 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, endangering airport security from eminent terror attacks (Addicott & Addicott, 2004).
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 (Britain, 2010). There exists a high level of overconfidence amongst various personnel tasked with the role of ensuring adequate security at the airports (Sweet, 2004). 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 (Britain, 2010). Such a notion is flawed because all airports, regardless 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 therefor attacking larger airports (Harrison, 2009).
As the world tries to cope 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 (Britain, 2010). The problem with various governments 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, 2004). A limited number of personnel manning security at the airports places a huge workload on the personnel (Sweet, 2004). The emergence of private security firms offers a viable means through which governments can utilize to improve security at the airports (Harrison, 2009). 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 (Harrison, 2009). 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 (Britain, 2010). In a nutshell, airports should always organize data on their vulnerabilities to terror attacks. Such data provide an ample means through which terrorism in international airports can be prevented.
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 a thorough security at all times (Harrison, 2009). As an example, such an approach would recommend random security checks at certain points within the airport, possible background checks when purchasing tickets at the gate, and posting officers or military personnel at various critical sections of the airport (Harrison, 2009). Another key security idea was a part of the 2004 initiative was hand swabbing, to check for explosive material or anything suspicious. Conclusively, airport security should always be enhanced to prevent terror attacks that can result in various fatalities. After these devastating attacks throughout the world, many countries should take heave and understand that attacks can and will happen at any given time. Proper security at all times is a must (Britain, 2010).
References
Addicott, J. F., & Addicott, J. F. (2004). Terrorism law: The rule of law and the war on terror. Tucson, AZ: Lawyers & Judges Pub. Co.
Britain, G. (2010). Counter-terrorism measures in British Airports: Government response to the Committee's ninth report of session 2009-10: First special report of session 2010-11.
Harrison, J. (2009). International Aviation and Terrorism: Evolving Threats, Evolving Security.
New York: CRC Press
Sweet, K. (2004). Aviation and Airport Security: Terrorism and Safety Concerns, 2ndEdition
Trapp, K. N. (2011). State responsibility for international terrorism: Problems and prospects. Oxford [etc.: Oxford University Press.
