Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Schoolkids face class terror drills
They must be vigilant, minister says Ukrainians flare up
SCHOOLKIDS will carry out security drills to prepare for terror attacks, under Government plans.
The lock-down and evacuation procedures will also guard against chemical and biological alerts and flooding.
School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: “Our schools are safe and thankfully serious incidents are extremely rare.
“It is, nevertheless, important that schools remain vigilant and prepare for potential risks.”
The Department for Education has issued draft guidance to help schools respond to the range of threats.
Mr Gibb added: “This will help identify risks and how to ensure measures are put in place, whether it is a terrorist attack, knife crime or other dangerous threat.” The Home Office, National Counter Terrorism Security Office and the Health and Safety Executive have all contributed. Security threats could include terrorist attacks using improvised explosive devices, gun or knife attacks.
And also vehicles being used as a weapon, such as in the Westminster Bridge attack in March last year.
The preventative measures could include screening of staff, pupils and visitors for prohibited items. TENSIONS continued to rise in Ukraine following Russia’s seizure of three of the country’s warships in the Black Sea.
Ukranian nationalists lit flares in a protest at the parliament building in the capital Kiev.
And outside the Russian embassy in the city, petrol bombs were thrown in another rally against the move as parts of the country face martial law.
It came as Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson blasted the “brazen hostility” of the 17 Russian fighter jets which had swooped on a British destroyer in the Black Sea in May.