Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1333129
es. Thus, not always are they able to recollect what really happened. Hence, the mass search around the city had its purpose, until the uni- formed services were certain that other persons were not involved. The rapid and effective communi- cations policy adopted by the Vien- na police is also quite noteworthy. Apart from the media/social media communications on the threat, and the call issued to the citizens to stay at home, the Police also asked the Vienna inhabitants not to share the videos that show the attack online. The citizens were asked to share the clips with the Police instead. The counter-terrorist operation was deeply similar to other operations undertaken around Europe. The rap- id reaction brings back memories of the 2017 London Bridge attack when the policemen neutralized the threat in a similar time of 8 minutes. The Vienna attack also shows con- tinuity in case of another trend, similar to other events happening recently. The burden of stopping the terrorist is often carried by the so- called first responders, assisted by support elements that appear on the scene gradually. There was no time to undertake action only after the special intervention units arrive - as it used to happen in the past. The employment of elements as such would be preceded by negotiation or at least an attempt, and by a pro- cess of gathering intel on the site of the events, the circumstances, the perpetrators, and the victims. CT units and other Police elements (such as the frontline crisis re- sponse units/riot police) are em- ployed, in circumstances as such, in two cases. One pertains to pursuits and searches, in search of suspects and the actual perpetrators - and these circumstances occurred in Vienna, similarly as in Boston, years ago. The second situation that oc- curred at the Bataclan Theatre in Paris in 2015, or in Orlando back in 2016, is an attack that cannot be withstood by the first responders and that evolves into a hostage sit- uation, with the hostages becoming the victims awaiting execution. Also, in this case, the time factor was critical in the process of saving as many persons hiding at the attacked facility, as possible, involving means www.fragoutmag.com