Increased numbers of armed police are to patrol London following a wave of attacks in Europe.
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The UK’s official terror threat has been at “severe” – meaning an attack is “highly likely” – for nearly two years.
Extra armed police patrolling London, including its major landmarks, were “prepared to deal with the worst situations” and “confront terrorists”, Sir Bernard said.
For Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the deployment is part of his “first priority” – the safety of Londoners.
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.
The Metropolitan Police officer also advised people to run away in case of a terror attack.
“Picking up people as they gravitate towards extremism early on, so we can intervene with social services and other agencies in a preventative way, is really important”.
Police Federation of England and Wales chairman Steve White said the “best case scenario” would be 24 months to get the additional marksmen in place.
As part of a new anti-terrorism operation, 600 additional armed officers will be present in highly visible locations across the United Kingdom capital to protect against the threat of attacks. It is vitally important that standards are maintained.
Counter-terrorism teams could be waiting for up to two years before the extra firearms officers promised to combat an attack are operational, a police group has warned.
The Met had previously announced it would increase the number of officers carrying firearms by 600.
The warning by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe reflects Britain’s current “severe” threat level for global terrorism and follows a string of attacks in Germany and France, some of which have been linked to Islamic militants.
Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe says his 31,000-member force has boosted its anti-terror resources since militants killed 130 people in the November 13 assaults on Paris.
Hogan-Howe was speaking in the aftermath of a series of attacks, including four claimed by Islamic State, which have raised public fears about the ability of authorities to protect them.
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“Our firearms officers are the ones who will run toward the danger”, he said.
