‘We can’t protect everyone on every pavement’, former anti-terror chief warns
A FORMER UK anti-terror chief has warned the public that authorities “can’t protect everyone on every pavement” after the Finsbury Park mosque attack.
Ex-counter terror chief claims van attacks are 'impossible to stop'
Speaking after one person died and 10 were injured during a terror attack in north London, Chris Phillips said vehicle attacks were “very, very difficult” to stop.
The former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security Office said incidents like last night’s van attack were “almost impossible” for police to prevent.
Already this year terrorists have carried out vehicle attacks on Westminster Bridge, London Bridge and now in Finsbury Park in the UK.
It follows other vehicle terror attacks in Nice, Berlin and Stockholm.
Mr Phillips spoke today about the difficulties facing anti-terror authorities in the UK when it comes to such attacks.
At least one person has died following an incident in Finsbury Park
He said: “It’s almost impossible to stop this unless we stop them and arrest them before they get in the van - and that’s unlikely.
“Of course we have got a lot of what I’d term ‘mad, bad and sad’ in society. Those people who are willing to, or want to, go off and do something crazy.
“In general policing terms there are many hundreds and thousands of thousands across the country.
“For people who choose to do this, it’s a very, very, difficult thing for police to stop.
Chris Phillips said it was 'almost impossible' to stop vehicle attacks
“And of course we can’t protect everyone on every pavement across the UK, it’s just an impossible task.”
Prime Minister Theresa May this morning held an emergency COBRA meeting after the attack overnight in north London.
A crowd of Muslim worshipers were struck in Finsbury Park last night
A crowd of Muslim worshippers leaving Finsbury Park Mosque and the Muslim Welfare House after midnight prayers when they were struck by a man driving a hired van.
Police said they are treating the attack as a terrorist incident. The man, aged, 48, has been arrested.