BOLLARDS TO TERRORISTS
Sleepy market town defends against jihadi rampage
A SLEEPY British town with a population of just 32,000 has installed concrete bollards to stop a Barcelonastyle van attack.
Ten 10,000kg blocks have been put in place to keep well-heeled shoppers safe in Bicester’s designer shopping area called Bicester Village.
They have been brightened up with cheerful paintwork, but their presence offers a chilling reminder of the threat posed by maniacs across the UK.
One male shopper, who did not wish to be named, told the Daily Star Sunday: “I’m here every few months, and it was a real shock to see these.
“They’ve done a good job in brightening the bollards up, although it’s obvious why they are here.
“The main drag of shops is pretty wide and straight, so someone who wanted to commit a terror attack could do a lot of damage before they were stopped.
“I’m glad that the owners have got safety in mind.”
Security expert Will Geddes called the blocks an “excellent” idea. Will, who runs International Corporate Protection, said: “Many of us who work or live in big cities will have noticed this type of vehicle restriction management system popping up in recent months. Sadly, terrorism is the new normal and any open place where large crowds of people gather – like a shopping centre – is now potentially vulnerable.
“It is far better to be proactive and prepared for such instances. Installing this type of system is a very effective way of preventing an attack.
“Anyone who claims this is oversensitive should be reminded of the attacks on London and Westminster Bridges, or at the Berlin Christmas market.”
Eight people were killed on London Bridge in June after three jihadis drove a van at crowds, before they were shot dead by police.
A further four people and a police officer were killed on Westminster Bridge in March when Khalid Masood drove his car into innocent people.
Bicester Village attracts six million shoppers annually and is the top UK destination for Chinese tourists after Buckingham Palace.
Extremists have threatened further attacks on busy shopping centres and main roads. The chilling warning, which was posted on a Telegram channel affiliated with Isis, said that “thousands of lone lions” would use cars, bombs and knives to kill more innocent people.
The channel urged Muslims living in Europe, North America and Australia to avoid shopping centres, roads and parking areas.
It described the locations as “targets for the soldiers of the Caliphate”.
The first statement, titled “O! Muslims,” appeared to be poorly translated from Arabic into English and read: “O! Muslims in America, Russia, France, Britain, Canada, Belgium, Australia and Italy and elsewhere outside the caliphate rule.
“Get far away from the gathering places of the Crusaders before military places, from their markets, ways and parking [areas].
“All of these places are targets for the soldiers of the Caliphate and we will explode, run over people by vehicles, and cut off their necks in any time.”
Bicester Village declined to comment on the installation of the bollards at the shopping centre.