Security procedures at many airports throughout the world have been reviewed and tightened since international terrorist organizations returned two years ago to airline hijackings, bombings, and massacres in airports as methods of gaining the maximum publicity for their cause while undermining public confidence in the governments of the target countries. However, as the airport massacres in Rome and Vienna on December 27, the bombing of TWA Flight 840 on April 2, and the nearly successful smuggling of a bomb aboard an Israeli El Al airliner in London showed, terrorists have become adept at evading airport security precautions.
The bombings of offices and businesses owned by American multinational corporation have prompted considerable increases in corporate security precautions; attacks on American and NATO military facilities during recent months have resulted in heightened security precautions being taken at military bases and NATO-related facilities. But defensive security measured have not ended the threat of terrorism.
Many European and North American security experts are convinced that stringent security measures at airports, military bases, and corporate offices will merely encourage terrorists to select other, easier targets. Of special concern are airline ticket offices, hotels, restaurants, and historical, or cultural sites that attract travelers in Europe and North America.
One should not assume, however, that airport massacres or hijackings are a thing of the past merely because security is tighter. Terrorist groups tend to copy and improve on successful attacks by their comrades. And in terms of access to the media of every developed country, virtually any airport attack, bombing, or hijacking can guarantee that sort of "success." Additionally, over the past decade, many new "nationalist" and "sectarian" terrorist groups have appeared. In most cases, these have received some forms of support--expert training in sabotage, money, and arms--from such countries as Cuba, Libya, Syria, Iran, and the Soviet Union itself. Depending on the circumstances, a terrorist cell from one of these groups could be called upon at any time to repay debts to its sponsors with an attack on an American or European target.
The record of major international terrorist attacks during the past two years indicates that Europe and the Middle East hold the greatest threats for American and European travelers. Some of the worst attacks have taken place in hotels catering to tourists, airline offices, and restaurants, not airports.
In the present climate, many professional security consultants advice Americans and Europeans that it may in the interests of themselves and their families to cancel plans for business or vacation travel abroad, especially to Europe and the Mediterranean countries, unless there are pressing reasons. However, if you do decide to travel, there are a number of commonsense steps to take for your and your family's protection. It is important to remember that even if a terrorist group were to attack an airport on a day you were traveling, the actual mathematical probability that any particular person would be victimized is very small, considering the hundreds of airports and the many thousands of travelers.
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