Mobile anti-terror barriers for capital

MOBILE anti-terror barriers that sound an alert in a major incident are poised to be introduced in Edinburgh during festivals and events.

Officials at Edinburgh City Council plan to invest in new “hostile mitigation barriers” at key locations around the city.

Described as fully flexible gates, the barriers are being tested by the local authority and improvements suggested before their introduction.

A report to the City of Edinburgh Council states: “Initial tests were very positive, slowing up vehicles and creating noise to alert any people in the area, and ideas for improvement and further testing have been discussed and are likely to be implemented.

“This will provide a number of fully flexible gates which can be deployed by council resources and which can provide a known level of protection to events in the city.”

The mobile barriers would be used at locations still to be confirmed, in addition to the more permanent barriers that remain in place at six locations across the city.

The UK Government is paying for the NBA, which is designed to prevent hostile vehicle attacks in busy locations.

A spokeswoman for the council said: “We were the first council to work with local police to devise and develop our own protection system, which is always reviewed to ensure it is fit for purpose.

“Officers are now working on a set of flexible and robust security barriers.”