Attack prompts security rethinks worldwide
tokyo — Countries from the United States to Japan and Singapore are considering tightening security ahead of major theatre and sports events following a suicide bomb attack in Britain that killed at least 22 people.
Prime Minister Theresa May called an emergency meeting with intelligence chiefs on the deadliest militant assault in the country since four British Muslims killed 52 people in suicide bombings on London’s transport system in July 2005.
The US Department of Homeland Security said it was closely monitoring Monday’s attack, at the end of a concert by US singer Ariana Grande in Manchester, and that the US public may experience increased security at public events.
Sports events organisers were also looking into security. European soccer body UEFA said there was “no specific intelligence” to suggest Wednesday’s Europa League final in Stockholm between Manchester United and Dutch side Ajax Amsterdam might be the target of any attack. UFEA said “a number of additional security measures were implemented” after a truck attack in central Stockholm last month.
Japan said it had started gathering information. “We have strengthened our position by establishing an information-gathering unit dedicated to international terrorism,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters.
In Singapore, the organiser of Britney Spears’ concerts in June said they were considering new measures. “We are definitely looking at tightening security,” Yogesh Mehta, project manager at IME Entertainment Group, said. “All our events are licensed by the police. It is normally advised by the licensing department on what precautions to take, how many armed guards we need. So we work closely with them.”
Singapore, which hosts a security summit between June 2-4 bringing together Asia-Pacific defence and military chiefs, made amendments to the Public Order Act last month. It requires event organisers to notify the police a month beforehand if they expect more than 5,000 people to attend. —