YOUR VIEWS

P0 Box 1, Southport 4215 editorial@goldcoast.com.au facebook.com/goldcoastbulletin THE attacks in London mark the third serious terrorist incident in Britain this year.

The attacks bear the hallmarks of IS, and reports that the attackers systematically stabbed people suggests some sort of military training.

Returning foreign fighters, who are typically citizens of their home countries, are rapidly becoming a major headache for European governments. Most are committed to IS and have gained combat experience in places like Iraq and Syria.

Using their combat skills on unarmed civilians is not a huge leap for such individuals.

This poses a major challenge for security agencies who can’t always track the movements of would-be terrorists. Counter-terrorist authorities are quick to respond to such attacks but the key is pre-emption and prevention.

Australian counter-terrorism authorities will be watching closely for potential lessons from the latest terrorist outrage in Britain.

Like their counterparts in many other Western countries, Australia’s security agencies will look to use these lessons as a means of strengthening the country’s own defences against terrorism.

There will also be a focus on the nature of the perpetrators such as evidence of a capacity to strike without warning; the promise of martyrdom to those carrying out the attacks; and the aim of degrading the psychological resilience of those targeted.

The Turnbull Government says Australian authorities have successfully prevented about a dozen terrorist attacks.

The reality, however, is terrorists only have to be successful once for counter-terrorism measures to have failed.

PROFESSOR ANDREW O’NEIL

IT CAN be hard to stay positive when there is so much bad news in the media. But I want to remind you we can all make a difference.

At Red Cross we see good in the resilience of communities as people recover from losing homes and businesses after Cyclone Debbie.

We also see it in places like Indonesia, where access to clean water and better nutrition is helping villagers gain a healthier future.

This June we’re asking you to help a neighbour, volunteer or even doing a random act of kindness for a stranger. Through our programs, people who are lonely will receive a daily phone call, struggling families will be able to access nutritious food and those separated from loved ones in war can be reunited.

Please make a tax deductible donation before 30 June by visiting redcross.org.au/donatenow.

LEISA BOURNE DIRECTOR, QLD AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS

EUROPEAN leaders can no longer deny their countries are at war with radical Islam. People are being slaughtered because of stupid decisions to allow unrestricted immigration over many years.

It would appear Peter Dutton and Tony Abbott are among a small handful of Australian politicians who understand the dangers facing our country if we don’t learn from the mistakes made in Europe.

SAMPANCHO