Counter-Terrorism Plans in Europe

Since the Madrid bombings, it has become clear that Europe must take the threat of terrorist attacks very seriously. The EU has introduced measures to counter this threat and is encouraging its member states to adopt them. These include EU arrest warrants, which will fast-track the handover of terrorist suspects from one country to another, and steps to monitor and control money-laundering for terrorist activities. The UK, Denmark, Sweden and Finland have so far done the most to embrace these measures, whereas Italy and Greece have been slow to adopt them.

Some countries have suggested forming a European security force, similar to the American CIA. However, this would be difficult to co-ordinate as the European states have traditionally been very secretive about their own national security and intelligence agencies.

There were worries about potential terrorist attacks at the Olympic Games, which were held in Athens in August 2004. More than 10,000 athletes from 202 nations took part in the games, watched by around two million spectators. In order to ensure everyone’s safety, £675 million was spent on security, which included 70,000 personnel and more than 1,500 closed-circuit TV cameras placed around the Greek capital. The skies were filled with helicopters and spy planes and there were even armed divers in the port of Piraeus, to protect the VIPs staying there, onboard yachts in the harbour.

The UK has experience of dealing with terrorism - mainly due to decades of attacks by the IRA. The police have launched the Life Savers Campaign, with a hotline for people with information on anything they think is suspicious. The public are encouraged to report unattended bags and packages, or anyone they think is paying unusual attention to the security of public places like stations and shopping malls. Banks are asked to keep a watch for the setting up of bogus accounts and motor traders are asked to be suspicious of customers who are willing to pay over the odds in cash for vehicles or who are reluctant to provide ID.