Recently, A truck drove into a crowd at a Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany recently, leading to the deaths of at least 5 people and injuring 200 more. This followed hard upon a mass school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, making it clear there are a variety of terror weapons open to the deranged and disgruntled.
The attack in Magdeburg is not unique. In 2021, a driver rammed into a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, killing at least five people and injuring 48 others. Although not characterized as a terror event by some, a court of law determined the suspect deliberately targeted spectators at high speed. The attack parallels the killing of 86 people and the wounding of 434 others in Nice, France by a truck during a fireworks display in 2016 and, especially, the deaths of 13 and injuring of dozens at a Berlin Christmas market that same year.
Origins of Vehicular Terror
The origin of the vehicular terror strategy is unclear, but an English-language ISIS magazine called “Rumiyah” called for vehicle attacks on the West in an article called “Just Terror Tactics” some years ago. Al-Qaeda has made calls for similar attacks, calling trucks “the ultimate mowing machine.”
The article said that “Though being an essential part of modern life, very few actually comprehend the deadly and destructive capability of the motor vehicle and its capacity of reaping large numbers of casualties if used in a premeditated manner…Vehicles are like knives, as they are extremely easy to acquire…”
Ordinarily, mass casualty terror events are associated with guns, but these items are difficult to come by in most countries. That doesn’t mean shooting incidents are completely unknown in countries other than the U.S. You can own a gun in Germany, but you must meet several strict requirements: You must be over 18 years old, have no criminal record, pass psychological and safety exams, have a license, have mandatory insurance, keep it in a locked container, and more.
Bombs, another preferred terrorist weapon, require expertise to assemble safely. Owning or renting a vehicle, however, is much more common and requires little skill to operate. Trucks and cars can cause mass casualties if wielded as a weapon; obtaining one elicits no suspicion, and there is no nation that forbids renting one.
Therefore, those willing to cause murder and mayhem have a blueprint that works anywhere. Few pedestrians pay much attention to traffic on walkways unless crossing the street. The speed at which a vehicle can accelerate and turn into a crowd leaves little time for reaction. Hence, the “success” rate of this type of terror event may surpass even a gunman’s ability to cause deaths and injuries.
The increasing number of terror events around the world underlines the increasing need for situational awareness. Situational awareness is the mindset whereby threats are mentally noted and avoided or abolished. Originally a tool for the military in combat, it is now a strategy for the average citizen in these uncertain times.
The situationally aware person is always at a state of “Yellow Alert” when in crowded public venues. By that, I mean a state of relaxed but vigilant observation of what is happening around him or her. When an action or behavior occurs that doesn’t match the surroundings and situation, it’s called an “anomaly.”
When a vehicle moves erratically or leaves the normal pattern of traffic, it’s an anomaly that requires rapid action. Mentally noting routes of escape whenever you’re in a crowd will give you the best chance of getting out of the way. Just as knowing the location of exits in any public venue is good policy, a heightened awareness is important at any outdoor event or public area near roadways.
For those who use vehicles to kill, the target will be crowds of people near the street. Their objective is mass casualties, and the pedestrians nearest the curb will bear the brunt of the attack. Consider walking on the fringe of a crowd away from the road to give yourself the most options. In the center, the masses, not your own good judgment, will dictate your movement.
typical bollards
Municipalities can and should protect their citizens by constructing barriers known as “bollards” which would stop vehicles from entering popular pedestrian areas. These can be seen outside many government buildings and airport terminals. Expanding the use of bollards to areas that attract crowds should be an important consideration to avoid future terror events. Roadblocks like these can prevent a vehicle from reaching high enough speeds to plow through crowds or even stop it completely.
I’ll admit that the likelihood you’ll be in the path of a maniac using a vehicle, or any other weapon, is very small. Panic isn’t the answer, but these are troubled times; the more situationally aware you are, the safer you’ll be.
Joe Alton MD
The Altons
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