Airport attack gives firms a wake-up call

The terror attacks in Glasgow have seen 100 North-east companies turn to a specialist security firm for help.

Aberdeen's reputation as the oil capital of Europe means many arewondering whether it could be a target for terrorists.

And the botched attack on Glasgow Airport on June 30 has focusedthe minds of some North-east business bosses.

Helensburgh-based terrorism expert 360 Defence has seen a hugeamount of business from the Aberdeen area since June 30.

The firm has links with the UK and US security services and ismade up of people who trained in the Israeli security services, theworld's most experienced anti-terror operators.

Since the Glasgow attack it has had around 2,200 hits on itswebsite a week from the North-east and almost 100 companies havecalled for advice.

The firm's defence director Simon Leila said: "We get a lot ofbusiness from Aberdeen.

"We always had some but it has definitely increased a lot sincethe summer.

"Most of it is from oil companies who feel particularlythreatened."

The company offers advice from increasing the security of offices,rigs and boats, to dealing with the aftermath of a bomb attack.

Mr Leila said: "Rigs are particularly vulnerable because they areso exposed.

"Oil companies need to have systems in place to prepare for anattack on a rig and keep traffic out at sea.

"Boats are also vulnerable, mainly as they can potentially carrya bomb to a rig."

But he said that offices and headquarters are also potentialtargets.

And he said: "We help companies draw up contingency plans tooperate after an attack on their offices.

"We even prepare companies for a nuclear attack. It's going tohappen somewhere someday."

Mr Leila said the biggest security threat was a lack ofobservation by staff.

"Staff need to be as watchful, as they would be when they drive acar, and report anything different or suspicious.

"That's the same for Joe Public. You may think it's nothing, butif 300 people lose their lives in a bomb blast you will feelterrible, or could be dead yourself."

The firm also gives self defence training for people going toplaces like Nigeria where they might be taken hostage.

"Hostage taking is an increasing problem. In Nigeria it is justto earn some cash, but in the Middle East it is far different.Usually there it is a desire to get publicity."

Stopping information theft is also on his list of requests.

IT systems can prevent security breaches by people passingthemselves off as employees to get information.

dmaddox@ajl.co.uk