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Abigail Jenkins

Mr. Phillips

AP Language and Composition

13 December 2017

Terrorism in the United Kingdom

Terrorist activity in the United Kingdom is higher now than ever before. Between the months of

March and June of 2017, there have been three unrelated terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom. The first

attack took place on March 22, 2017 and involved Khalid Masood driving a rented SUV through crowds

of innocent pedestrians crossing Westminster Bridge. He subsequently drove into the gates guarding the

Houses of Parliament and stabbed the on guard police officer with a knife. After all was said and done,

Masood had killed five people. Exactly two months later on May 22, 2017, Salman Abedi planted a self

constructed bomb into a mass of adults and children leaving pop star Ariana Grande’s concert in

Manchester Arena. This attack left twenty-three dead, including Abedi. To escalate matters even more,

three ruthless terrorists, Khuram Butt, Rachid Ridouane, and Youssef Zaghba, crashed a van into a fence

on June 3, 2017, and attacked civilians in the market with knives attached to their wrists. This incursion

left eight dead and forty-three injured (Pantucci). Despite these beastly and inhumane attacks, the British

government is not in any hurry to make long term changes in regards to the country’s security.

Fortunately, the recent attacks in the United Kingdom have risen awareness about terrorism, and citizens

are calling for the implementation of vigorous security measures to protect their safety and wellbeing due

to government’s lack of urgency.

In the wake of the London bombing, the UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May did not feel that it

was necessary for extreme security measures to be put into place. After referring to the attack as a

potential terrorist related action, May proceeded to call an emergency security meeting with the

government’s security cabinet to deal with the crisis (“London Bridge Attack Timeline”). Following the
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security cabinet session, citizens across the country patiently waited to be informed of a revision to the

United Kingdom’s current counter terrorism strategy, but May was still reluctant to make any drastic

changes to the strategy (Travis). This inaction was indubitably alarming to many individuals across the

country, as such a catastrophic event had just taken effect. It will be significantly more difficult to reduce

the risk of additional attacks if more drastic measures are not taken.

When the London Bridge attacks transpired just two months later, May’s viewpoint had

seemingly changed. Following one of several emergency government Cobra meetings, she sternly stated,

“Enough is enough,” and “action must be taken within Britain.” Ironically enough, she even went on to

say that “there is far too much tolerance of extremism in our country” (“London Bridge Attack

Timeline”). Although this powerful statement indicated a push towards a more secure nation, the

country’s threat level remained the same. The only additional security involved additional forces at the

scenes of the recent attacks. This lack of security is exceedingly problematic, especially for a country so

subject to terrorism. In order to best protect the country’s citizens, it is imperative that stronger security

measures are taken.

One of the most controversial topics being discussed in regards to the United Kingdom’s

security is it’s counter terrorism program. The program is structured around four central concepts: to

prevent, pursue, prepare, and protect. Emily Winterbotham, a Senior Researcher in the National Security

and Resilience program at RUSI addressed the topic, states that “the increased tendency to employ easily

accessible, low-cost, unsophisticated methods to inflict terror makes this job all the more difficult. The

use of these tools is not new, but these attacks appear to be the new norm and reflects the way terrorist

techniques can spread through a process of diffusion and imitation.” Acts such as these are much more

difficult to prevent, in comparison to previous well known terrorist attacks such as Osama bin Laden’s

attack on America’s Twin Towers in New York City. Attacks like these can now be prevented through

methods such as mandatory security checks in airports, but such uncomplicated and unadvanced
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outbreaks are ultimately unpredictable. Many citizens are frustrated because they feel that success and

safety are not resulting from the Prevent program. However, in reality, there is only so much that can be

done to prepare for such uncertain events. As a result, many other ideas have been presented regarding the

nation’s security in addition to the already present counter-terrorism program.

Despite her reluctance to ramp up the intensity of security in the United Kingdom, Prime Minister

Theresa May has proposed some potential security ideas herself. She claims that it is time for change in

London. In regards to terrorism, she indicates potential changes in sentences for terrorism offences, a

crackdown on “safe spaces” for extremist attitudes in the United Kingdom’s society, as well as measures

to stop terrorists from recruiting people online (Randerson and Mctague). She has also mentioned the idea

of in house incarceration (Maidment). May presents these ideas with the hope that the most dangerous and

suspected terrorists will be able to be contained, as opposed to being out in the open around the innocent

residents. By providing terrorists with proper punishment and keeping them away from the city, the

United Kingdom will be a significantly safer place for adults and children.

An additional idea that has been proposed is the inclusion of physical barriers in many of the

country’s major cities. Stefano Boeri, a professor of urban planting at the Polytechnic University of Milan

introduced the idea of using trees as barriers from attacks. Boeri says, “It's well known that a tree - unlike

a concrete barrier - not only protects us, but it makes us shade, absorbs urban air pollution, hosts insects

and birds” (McEwan). In doing this, the city not only becomes a more enjoyable place to spend time, but

it also becomes safer and more protected environment. Sue James, a Trees and Design Action Group

Coordinator joined Boeri in his search of an effective solution to mass terror. She states, “The City of

London Corporation, meanwhile has recently been advised by security experts to install manned

checkpoints, rising street bollards, and crash-proof barricades around the eastern section of the city” (How

can trees help to safeguard). This idea is very similar to that of Boeri, as it will provide a physical layer of

protection for civilians, making their everyday life more secure.

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The freedom of cyberspace is another issue in regards to the United Kingdom’s security.

By using encryption, extremists are able to code messages and information so that only authorized parties

are able to view what is being said. Encrypted messaging apps such as “Signal” and “WhatsApp” are used

by many extremists to plan and coordinate attacks because what they say cannot be seen by anyone but

the intended receiver. This problem has recently been brought to the attention of government officials, as

Prime Minister May states, “We must work with allied democratic governments to reach international

agreements that regulate cyberspace to prevent the spread of extremist and terrorism planning”

(Maidment). Working to regulate cyberspace and ultimately terminate the use of encrypted apps is a

major component in the effort to secure the United Kingdom.

Donald Trump has also expressed his views in regards to the United Kingdom’s security

situation. Through a tweet, Trump proposed the idea for London to implement a “travel ban,” similar to

the executive order that he attempted in United States (“London Bridge Attack Timeline”). This “ban”

would entitle foreigners to go through a rigorous screening process before entering the United Kingdom,

and the government will subsequently decide whether the person(s) attempting to travel into the country

pose a threat to society. Although this plan would be effective in that it decreases the risk of terrorists

entering the country, it also poses the risk of Muslims and other religions feeling discriminated against

because restrictions are put onto their everyday lives. Discriminating against other religions is not only

unjust, but it can also lead to an increased amount of terrorist activity. If these religions and groups feel

discriminated against and are not treated equally, they will only become more frustrated with society, and

they will be inclined to impose terror that would not have been caused if they were not discriminated

against. In order to find a solution, the nation needs to come together as a whole to fight terrorism, and a

divide in opinion will only hurt society, not help.

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The terrorist activity in the United Kingdom is an unquestionably serious topic, and it is

imperative that the country comes together in order to make a change that will benefit their own safety. It

is understood that terrorism cannot be completely eliminated due to the fact that the United Kingdom is a

highly populated and developed country, but if society takes it upon themselves to make small steps in the

right direction, a higher level of security will be easily obtainable. In order to reach the goal of maximum

safety within the United Kingdom, significantly more strict and serious security must be enforced.
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Works Cited

““How Can Trees Help to Safeguard Public Spaces?” ​Horticulture Week​, 1 Oct. 2017, p. 31. ​Gardening,

Landscape and Horticulture​, Accessed November 30, 2017.

London Bridge Attack Timeline as It Happened and Reaction.” ​CBS News​, CBS Interactive, 4 June 2017,

Accessed December 1, 2017.

Maidment, Jack. “Theresa May Calls on Internet Companies to Eradicate 'Safe Spaces' for Extremism in

Wake of London Bridge Terror Attack.” ​The Telegraph​, Telegraph Media Group, 4 June 2017,

Accessed December 3, 2017.

Pantucci , Raffaello. “Britain on Alert: The Attacks in London and Manchester and the Evolving Threat.”

RUSI​, 16 Aug. 2017, Accessed November 29, 2017.

Randerson, James, and Tom McTague. “Theresa May: UK Response to Terrorism Must

‘Change.’” ​POLITICO​, POLITICO, 4 June 2017, Accessed December 1, 2017.

Travis, Alan. “UK Counter-Terrorism Strategy Back in Focus after London Attack.” ​The Guardian​,

Guardian News and Media, 23 Mar. 2017, Accessed December 3, 2017

Winterbotham, Emily. “The Westminster Attack Shows the New Challenges Facing UK

Counter-Terrorism .” ​The Guardian​, Guardian News and Media, 24 Mar. 2017, Accessed

December 4, 2017.