After Munich: the need for proper police preparation

The entire world has now commented on the background of Friday’s massacre of innocents in Munich. And in today’s issue we give some details about the unfortunate young victims, victims of a sick mind.

In today’s world which discusses immigration, it comes as a surprise to find out that three of the victims were Kosovar and three were Turks. And a further victim was a Greek who threw himself in the line of fire so as to save his sister.

As we, on Friday, watched the tragedy unfold, when we still did not know the background and thought the attackers were three and concluded this was another terrorist Isis-inspired attack, we also noticed the state of preparedness of the Munich police and special forces.

There was none of the confusion we are sure would happen here if such a tragedy were unfortunately to unfold.

This was the biggest police operation in Munich in 10 years and we could see that everyone knew

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what had to be done and where did they have to go. That shows preparation, lots of it.

We also noticed how well-equipped they were, with body-armor, with rifles and other equipment.

One thing which emerged very clearly was how they cleared the streets so that no cars, maybe passing by or even attracted by the news, clogged the streets and impeded the passage of ambulances and other police vehicles. We doubt if that can take place in Malta given our penchant to flock and see for ourselves.

We also saw how immediate orders were given to block all public transport, all trains, underground trains, taxis even so as to ensure a clear cityscape to track down the perpetrators – only then to find they were just one boy and he had killed himself in a side-road next to the shopping centre.

Nor were the authorities scared to order everyone in that big city to walk it home or find temporary refuge. Maybe here the people would cause the government to resign

Despite the dramatic tragedy that was unfolding, we did not get chaos of information. The police spokesman held low-key informative sessions many times in the day and in the night. There were, it is true, unconfirmed reports by some police officers that surfaced on the Net – and which turned out to be untrue. Nor did ministers et al hog the press conferences, as they undoubtedly would do here.

We also noticed that the police were getting help from their counterparts in Austria and in other German provinces.

God forbid that such a thing were to happen here, but we have to be prepared for anything these days. And the police and the armed forces must be always prepared for any eventuality.

If anything happens and they are found wanting, there will not be a time to look back and regret. if such a thing happened.