“As far as terrorism is concerned, we have to learn from every terror attack and improve,” Sir Paul Stephenson, commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, London, told DNA during a short trip to Mumbai on Thursday.
“Terrorism has become the topmost priority of every police agency across the globe,” said Stephenson who was on his first visit to Mumbai to attend a summit on Friday.
Sitting in the Trident Hotel, which was one of the targets of the November 26, 2008, terror attacks, Stephenson said since terrorism had become a global problem, it also needed to be tackled at that level.
“Investigative agencies across the globe should come together and cooperate with each other to make the world secure and safe,” he said.
He said one aspect which could help in tackling terrorism is to learn how to prevent them. “After the London tube bombings, there have been no terror attacks in London. In fact, we have foiled at least two attempts of terror attacks in the past two years,” Stephenson said. “We have also studied terror attacks across the world, including the 26/11 terror attacks. The one thing that we have learnt [from 26/11] is that we can never be perfect. Always expect the unexpected. We have to learn from experience and continue to improve and be prepared. Be ready to respond,” Stephenson quipped.
“The heart and mind has to come together to make this world a secure place,” he added. “There needs to be a better understanding of what could be the possible targets, locations, transport system likely to be used and the tactics terrorists are likely to be employ. Soft targets that are vulnerable to radicalisation, should be identified and should be taken in confidence,” Stephenson observed.
When asked what he would want to advise the Mumbai police, Stephenson said, “I would be an extremely arrogant police commissioner to give any advice to the Mumbai police,” Stephenson concluded.
Comments