Businesses across Greater Manchester were today being told by counter terrorism police to be on alert for a potential pre-Christmas attack.
GMP, along with other forces across the north west, were briefing companies including bosses of shopping centres, cinema complexes, sporting stadiums, plus places of worship.
Manchester’s Arndale Centre, Printworks, the Trafford Centre, United’s Old Trafford ground and City’s Etihad Stadium are expected to be among eleven venues across the region where police will be helping to step up their security and train staff
Manchester’s Victoria and Piccadilly train stations and the Metrolink tram system plus big venues like Manchester Arena are also likely to be included in the initiative.
Businesses will receive a briefing about counter terrorism under Operation Griffin to help them deal with security challenges on a day to day basis and in the event of a major incident in locations that are regularly crowded with people.
A Counter Terrorism Awareness Week launched today in which police are urging the public and firms to play their part in keeping the region safe.
It highlights where action by the police, businesses and the public can prevent terrorism, vigilance in crowded places and transport hubs, preventing violent extremism, cutting off terrorist financing, and preventing access to tools that terrorists need to operate.
Assistant Chief Constable Ian Wiggett, the north west lead for counter terrorism, said: “Following the increase of the international terrorism threat to severe, there is a heightened need to ensure that the north west is in the best position to deter and detect potential terrorist threats.
“The week highlights the importance of training people to look out for suspicious behaviour and what they should do if an attack happens, along with preventing terrorism and radicalisation. It is important to protect vulnerable people by responding to the ideological challenge of terrorism and the threat we face from those who promote it.
“This is not about scaring people, but highlighting that everybody, from law enforcement to businesses, to the general public, has a role to play in keeping the UK safe from terrorism. We encourage people to be vigilant to things that are out of place or suspicious and report it to the police.”
In addition the National Crime Agency and Border Force have launched Project Kraken to increase vigilance along the UK’s coastline and increase public reporting of suspicious or unusual behaviour in docks and naval yards.
The M.E.N. revealed last month how police seized £250,000 in cash from travellers suspected of trying to fly out of Manchester to fund terror group Islamic State. The bulk of the haul was confiscated from Syria-bound passengers intercepted before boarding flights from Manchester Airport.
No comments:
Post a Comment