The former director-general of the British security service (MI5) himself believes the terror threat being faced by the UK is far from over.
Speaking to BBC Radio, Lord [Jonathan] Evans of Weardale noted: “Since 2013 there have been 19 attempted attacks that have been disrupted and even since the attack at Westminster we are told there have been six disruptions, so this is a permanent state of preparedness.”
Lord Evans believes the matter is “genuinely a generational problem,” with the underlying threat continuing. “I think we are going to be facing 20 to 30 years of terrorist threat and therefore we need, absolutely critically, to persevere,” he said.
The baron – who stepped down as MI5 head in 2013 – also talked about connected devices and the Internet of Things (IoT), citing emerging cyber threats and the need to make devices more secure.
Pinsent Masons’ Nick Bradley, in his analysis published on Out-Law two months ago, said the insurance industry’s understanding of terrorism cover in the UK is widening, following the recent attacks in London and Manchester.
The insurance law expert believes insurers must focus on how business interruption cover is being extended beyond the realm of property damage.
“The real damage caused by the ‘lone wolf’-style tactics adopted by the attackers at Westminster, Manchester Arena, and London Bridge was loss of life, injuries, and significant disruption to local businesses,” he said.
Bradley noted that the attacks, which targeted civilians and not property, “would have been completely unforeseeable when Pool Re (the UK’s government-supported terrorism risk reinsurer) was established in 1993.”
Related stories:
How Manchester and London shook up terrorism insurance
Insuring against the changing face of global terror
