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When panic attacks
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DON'T PANIC! |
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Government guidelinesThe British government's advice on terrorism can be found on the websites of the Home Office and Foreign Office. The Foreign Office offers detailed advice on specific countries. Anyone planning a trip to Afghanistan, for instance, is advised to stay in Kabul and avoid 'public places frequented by foreigners'. The Home Office is less forthcoming, advising us to 'follow the same precautions you normally take to avoid being the victim of a crime'. If we are caught up in a terrorist incident, we should listen to the emergency services. If we are not directly involved, we should 'GO IN, STAY IN and TUNE IN' – that is, go home, put the TV on and wait for announcements. There's a reason why this is all so vague. 'To give detailed advice in advance about how to handle every potential threat would be misleading and unhelpful.' This view isn't shared by the United States government. The United States Department of Homeland Security has an entire website on 'readiness'. Americans are advised to lock the doors, tape up the windows and sit it out for three days. The site even tells them how much water to stockpile (a gallon per person per day). What you're supposed to do if your less-prepared neighbour runs out of water on day two is less clear. The British government's attitude can be summed up as 'we know best'. The United States government seems to be banking on that old frontier spirit. How well either of these approaches would work in an emergency is another question. |
Madrid11 March 2004: The wreckage of a commuter train at Madrid's Atocha station. At least three bombs exploded at the same time at the Atocha, Santa Eugenia and El Pozo stations during the capital's rush hour. After initial theories blaming ETA for the attack, al-Qaeda is now believed to be responsible |
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