Met deploys 600 extra armed police to patrol London’s streets

As a response to recent attacks which took place in Europe (as well as in the US or the Middle East) and a leaked counterterrorism map which revealed how fast and compact ISIS’s global terror network is spreading, the Metropolitan Police service is rolling up its sleeves and taking all the precautionary measures in anticipation of terrorist attacks.

The 600 extra armed forces will patrol across London’s streets, both on foot and in vehicles.

“Anyone who’s been following events in Europe over the past few weeks will understand why we want to show our determination to protect the public [...] The reality of having to deal with armed and deadly attackers is that you need firearms Officers who will use force to stop those attackers in their aim. Our firearms officers are the ones who will run towards the danger.” stated Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe according to The Guardian.

As the majority of London’s police force is unarmed, the new forces will supplement their actions and efforts in combating a possible terrorist attack.

The officers will patrol strategically around the clock, in order to secure the most popular locations and react effectively in case of either an isolated or coordinated attack.“The reality of having to deal with armed and deadly attackers is that you need firearms officers who will use force to stop those attackers in their aim. Our firearms officers are the ones who will run towards the danger,” added Hogan-Howe.

Even though London’s threat level has been at “severe” level for 2 years, Londoners are reassured that the aim of this initiative is “to protect the public” and should not be alarmed by this.

Since the atrocities of 7/7 attacks in 2005 when 4 simultaneous suicide attacks in central London left 52 people dead and over 700 injured, the capital seemed to be off the extremist organisation’s target map.

Nevertheless small scale attacks, for instance the Leytonstone tube station incident when a man knife stabbed a number of people shouting "this is for Syria!", but somehow as a blood-spattered curtain falls over around, you can’t help but wonder who’s next and what’s going to happen.