Whether you like the fact that terrorism has become something that can strike anywhere, anytime is regardless.
It has, as several recent attacks in America illustrate; here are some tips on what to do if you find yourself in the middle of an attack.
Pay Attention to Your Surroundings
Most victims of terrorist attacks are taken completely by surprise. We admit that it’s difficult to remain vigilant and hyper aware at all times, especially when you’re in a big, noisy crowd of people.
However, paying attention to the actions of those around you could help clue you into an imminent attack.
If someone is acting oddly, put yourself in a better position to either avoid them or, if necessary, take them down. It’s also smart to contact the police if someone is being suspicious enough to catch your eye.
Alert Others
Creating a panic could be very problematic, but it’s even worse to say nothing and let people get seriously injured or killed. If you see someone preparing to attack people with a knife, gun or another weapon, yell out a warning.
Something as simple as “Gun, look out!” or “Knife! Terrorist!” will get a lot of attention. You may also want to yell “Get down” or “Run,” depending on the exact situation.
While you’re doing this, hide or move quickly to avoid the terrorist or terrorists from easily determining that you’re the person who alerted everyone.
Taking Action During a Knife Attack
Terrorist stabbings typically involve going into a crowded area and stabbing as many people as possible. These attacks are not usually aimed at any specific person or group of people. Instead, they’re an attack of opportunity.
The best way to steer clear of being stabbed during one of these attacks is to get out of each terrorist’s line of sight and path. If you can hide until a terrorist passes you, this will put you in a much better position to take action to stop the attack.
If you have a gun and a clear shot, take it. Don’t put innocent bystanders at risk, though. Otherwise, if you’re behind a terrorist, tackling them with as much force as you can generate may be a better way to incapacitate them.
Stopping a Terrorist with a Gun
In many of these attacks, the gun-toting terrorists pick a starting point, begin shooting and then move through the area. If you happen to spot them moving into their initial position, you can shoot them or duck behind them while they’re distracted. From there, the techniques mentioned for stopping a knife attack will apply here as well.
Remember, though, that they have a deadly weapon that cut you down from a distance.
Be careful, be stealthy and remain alerted.
Defusing a Suicide Bomber
A suicide bomber is different from other terrorists. More than any other, this type of terrorist is ready and willing to die for their cause. They want to become a martyr, so they’re less likely to be cowed by a gun in their face. You also can’t simply shoot them or tackle them to the ground because either of these actions could cause the bomb to explode.
If you can see the bomb, be sure to steer clear of it. For example, if it’s strapped to their chest, you may be able to at least temporarily stop them by shooting them in the leg.
Hitting them in the back could also work, but there’s a risk that they’ll fall face first and trigger the bomb.
Most suicide bombers have a trigger device in their hand. Getting them to drop this device without pressing it isn’t going to be easy. Distracting them might work, especially if you’re able to hurt the hand in question enough to make them drop the device.
Incapacitating Moves
There are a few incapacitating moves that you can use to take care of any type of terrorist once you’ve gotten the upper hand.
Be aware that he or she is likely to have a knife or other small weapon handy, and they’ll be trying to use it. You can prevent this by taking a few quick actions.1. Immediately after the tackle, roll him onto his stomach (if necessary), grab one of his arms and begin pulling it up toward his neck. Pull hard and don’t stop when he screams.
2. Punch him in the eyes or, if possible, use pepper spray.
3. Punch him as hard as you can in the nose and/or throat.
The purpose of terrorism is to make everyone think they could be a victim and thus create the impetus to put pressure to change certain policies.
Terrorism is indiscreet for the most part as to who its victims are; that is why you always have to be alert and ready to act if necessary!
To learn more about how to address a terrorist attack, check out The Patriot Caller.