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What happened in Paris?
While information on the terrible events in Paris on the 13th November will continue to crystallise over the coming days and weeks, the terrorists’ actions continue a theme seen in recent attacks. The three events in Paris; suicide bombings, armed attacks on public spaces, armed hostage taking & suicide bombings - each is an approach employed elsewhere in Europe, the Levant and North Africa recently. The nature of the attacks reflect the continued evolution of tactics by Islamic militants.
Concentrations of people at predictable times present an attractive target for this type of terrorism. Clearly concerts or publicised business events, public transport & transport hubs, shopping malls & retail hubs and hospitality (hotel & restaurant) locations are examples of locations that present the desired target type.
The attacks were relatively low-tech in that the attack relied primarily on automatic weapons, with relatively small device
sizes employed for the suicide element. This is also a practical reflection of the limitations often imposed on terror groups by competent security services – it is more difficult to manufacture devices of a significant size due to security services monitoring of key bomb making ingredients. Active shooter attacks, small device attacks as well as the “lowest-tech” approaches of a knife attack or the use of a car as a kinetic weapon will continue be part of the terrorists approach, especially amongst terror cells with no access to the training or logistics of Middle Eastern or North African based groups. Critically, the targeting approach is to achieve the maximum casualties from any single attack, rather than the primary targets of “traditional terrorism”; the police, the military, the judiciary and the government or inflicting damage on infrastructure, assets and operations.
While individual organisations may not be in a position to stop an attack or avoid being targeted, there are steps that can be considered to reduce the potential for an attack or limit the scale and duration of an attack.
Risk. Reinsurance. Human Resources.
The Paris attack & the continuing evolution of terrorism
Whatever any organisation does, it is not possible to manage away the risk from terrorism. It requires active engagement to understand the local threat, the potential impacts and the proactive solutions that are available to mitigate the risk.
People
Business interuption Reputation
Property
Liability
Terrorism impacts
Mitigation considerations in light of the “changing face of terrorism”
What can individual organisations do to reduce their attractiveness to terror groups and limit the freedom of an attacker to access their building and people.
• Own the access points into your building; allowing you to minimise access points during higher threat periods and lock down access through these at a moment’s notice.
• Have the ability to establish hard segregation between any public reception area and the wider employee areas – significantly delay the ability of an attacker to roam your premises. This could include, for example, remotely locking down elevator access and locking out access controls into service areas.
• Consider establishing Active Shooter protocols – there is well developed guidance in this area to prepare managers and employees on actions if a hostile threat is identified within an organisation’s space.
• Proximity to public transport hubs, public spaces, high profile buildings or individuals may increase the potential to be impacted by terrorist events.
• Recognise that it is only Police response that will address & defeat a hostile individual on your site and that this response may be some time away; critically, liaison with the Police prior to an event is vital to understanding how long this may be, what information they will need when they arrive on site and what you can do to facilitate their actions.
• While there is an opportunistic element to terrorism targeting, it remains a worthwhile activity to regularly assess the risk posed by terrorism to an organisation, in order to inform risk mitigation and ultimately, risk transfer.
From an employer or operator of a property, consider your ability to demonstrate you have done all that is reasonable and practical to provide a safe environment.
Considerations for your terrorism insurance strategy
Traditionally terrorism related insurance has focussed on the property damage and business interruption resulting from an attack. While this clearly remains part of the spectrum of terrorism impacts, that spectrum is broadening and organisations need to develop a more responsive insurance programme to match these additional impacts, as well as coverage for unintended impacts (hoax or perceived threats that stop operations or activities – often a result of heightened tension, post events); a programme that considers the potential impacts on people, property, revenue and reputation.
Whatever any organisation does, it is not possible to manage away the risk from terrorism. It requires active engagement to understand the local threat, the potential impacts and the proactive solutions that are available to mitigate the risk.
Contacts
Terrorism Broking & Consulting
Tony Day Director & CBO Counter Terrorism [email protected]
Scott Bolton Director, Counter Terrorism [email protected]
Contingency Risk & Event Cancellation
Adrian Thomas Executive Director [email protected]
Terrorism Claims
Mark Fox Claims Leader, Property & Casualty [email protected]
Risk. Reinsurance. Human Resources.
Aon Risk SolutionsGlobal Broking Centre
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© Aon plc 2015. All rights reserved.The information contained herein and the statements expressed are of a general nature and are not intended to address the circumstances of any particular individual or entity. Although we endeavor to provide accurate and timely information and use sources we consider reliable, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No one should act on such information without appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of the particular situation.
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