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The events of 14 August 2018 in London serve as demonstrable evidence that tourist locales and government offices remain targets for terrorist attacks. The car ramming attack in London appears to have been the work of a lone wolf, an individual acting alone. The vehicle, a Ford Fiesta, was not one which would normally be associated with a terrorist act, as previously larger vehicles had been used in German, France, and elsewhere.
National Public Radio tells us that the attack was the third vehicle attack - car ramming - in London in the past 12 months.
Eye witnessed noted the tell-tale signs that something was untoward, the sound of an unusual acceleration. Then they witnessed the vehicle going up onto the sidewalk and then down the road attempting to pick off bicyclists and pedestrians, only to be stopped cold by bollards in place.
A suspected terrorist spent 90 minutes trawling the streets of Westminster before crashing into cyclists and pedestrians outside Parliament yesterday https://t.co/kWdNxpE1vi pic.twitter.com/IV681eGpgQ
— The Times of London (@thetimes) August 15, 2018
In our piece, “3 things to Consider if Caught in a Car Ramming Attack” we touch on the specifics of walking on the side of the road which has bollards.
Earlier this summer we saw two separate incidents, one in The Netherlands and the other in Russia. The accident in The Netherlands, was just that an accident, but the outcome was the same as if it had been an attack. While in Russia, the incident in Moscow appears to be an attack, though the Russian law enforcement and media have yet to make that determination. In all three of the incidents, pedestrians had to make split second decisions which may have allowed them to escape serious, if not fatal injury.
We share the advice provided by personal safety trainer, Larry Kaminer:
- Don’t always assume a fast-moving car is a police vehicle. Be sure to remain alert.
- If you see a vehicle weaving and driving, including up onto the curb, again, seek cover.
- If the incident turns out to be an accident or something non-malicious, there is no harm in a false alarm.
- Always trust your instincts. If you get a bad “vibe” about your environment, move to another, or open distance.
