The IAAF World Championships London 2017 comes off in August and lovers of athletics are expected to head to the city to be entertained by the likes of Usain Bolt, Mo Farah and many others.
My family has already purchased tickets for some of the sports and I am looking forward to take them round some tourist attractions in London.
For the past weeks, my wife has been asking, “Are we still going to London?” She keeps asking and my response has always been YES. She is cringed at the recent attacks in London. The world is struggling to understand why London has been the target of terrorists recently. I believe many other people looking forward to visit the United Kingdom to witness the games are asking themselves same question and are currently not too sure whether to make the trip or not.
With less than two months to go for the big athletic events, the question on the lips of many is “Is London really ready for the IAAF World Championships in terms of security? These terrorists seem to be winning the fight as they have succeeded in four major attacks in three months. Are we going to count some more as the days unfold?
At an Ariana Grande concert, in the foyer of the Manchester Arena, just as fans were coming out of the gig, an attacker triggered his bomb leaving twenty two dead and fifty nine others seriously injured. As the world do not know what security measures were put in place after the attack, another terrorist plowed a car into pedestrians on London’s Westminster Bridge, then fatally stabbed a police officer. We had all expected security officers to be on the alert so as to avert any terrorist attack. So how come there was another attack right after one which claimed twenty two lives?
This wasn’t the end though. In Central London too seven people were killed and forty eight injured of which twenty one of them presently fighting for their lives.
We thought that was the end of the attacks on London and went ahead to make accommodation arrangements for our stay in London. We guessed wrong! Just today, a man has died and eight others injured after a van ploughed into a group of people near a north London mosque.
Residents and Tourists are only fed with assurances after each attack. Now I am also wondering what again they are going to tell the world should I or anyone of my family lose the life in an attack in London. The world has had enough of the words already. Time to act is now to save Londoners and the world at large.
For every attack, the London Mayor, Police, and also the Prime Minister speaks. This has been the norm and should there be another attack, we expect them to speak again.
When one looks at the spate of these recent attacks in London, there are no doubts, or we do not need a prophet to tell the world that venues for the athletics would be major points of targets for terrorists. Well, it’s likely they may change their plans after reading this post but I am still unconvinced they won’t try it.
Terrorists always target places where many people are grouped as they do not want to die alone in their suicide bombings. London airports would be busier than usual, train stations are expected to be choked, buses would be heavily loaded with passengers, and tourist sites would record increased number of visitors. Nightclubs, shopping malls and busy streets. Is London really ready for all these?
Read How to stay safe from Terror Attacks during London 2017
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