Britain’s specialist Counter Terrorism Police unit has released a new short film that simulates a terror attack abroad — repeating the controversial ‘Run, Hide, Tell’ advice launched in December 2015.
Prefaced “firearms and weapons attacks are thankfully rare”, the short video illustrates the advice to British citizens caught up in terror attacks abroad with scenes of unseen gunmen attacking a holiday resort populated by Brits including families, young couples, and staff.
Using the now familiar “Run, Hide, Tell” mantra favoured by British police, the film advises individuals holidaying abroad to plan in advance, “consider your exits and escape routes”, and to flee terrorists.
“If there is a safe route, run. This is the best option… make sure your route doesn’t put you in the line of fire.” The video also encourages smart-thinking holidaymakers to instruct others to do the same and run, but not to let them “slow you down” if they are struck by indecision.
In scenes showing the bodies of dead tourists lying among overturned chairs on a hotel terrace, the video also gives advice on how to avoid being shot by the armed police who would be deployed to deal with a terror incident.
Showing a SWAT-style policing team clearing the hotel, the video explains: “The police may be unable to distinguish between you and an attacker. They may treat you firmly. Do everything they tell you to. Don’t make any sudden movements or gestures that could be seen as a threat.
“Stay calm, don’t shout or wave and keep your hands visible so they can see that you’re unarmed.”
The sort of attack featured in the video may recall the terror attack at holiday resort Al-Sousse in Tunisia in 2015 when an Islamic State-inspired gunman opened fire, killing and injured 77. British citizens were the main target of terrorist Seifiddine Rezgui Yacoubi — 30 of whom died in the attack.
Britain’s ‘”Run, Hide, Tell” slogan has proven controversial since it was rolled out in 2015, and contracts sharply to the advice given by the FBI in the U.S. which instructs followers to “Run. Hide. Fight.” The equivalent video, which gives instructions on how to survive an “active shooter event”, shows office workers responding to an attack by bludgeoning a gunman around the head with a fire extinguisher.
Based on a study of 160 active shooter events which found unarmed civilians were able to overpower the attacker more often than armed civilians or armed off-duty policemen were able to, the video states: “As a last resort, if you life is at risk, if you are alone or working together as a group, fight. Act with aggression, improvise weapons, disarm him, and commit to taking the shooter down — no matter what.”
Responding to the British advice, and in contrast to the American, a Sunday Times report quoted a security source rubbished the idea of not fighting back, remarking: “If you are a cornered rat and you are about to die, what are you going to do? You have got to have a go.
“‘Run, hide, tell’ — that’s not remotely helpful. You might as well ‘run, hide, die’, frankly.”
Follow Oliver Lane on Facebook, Twitter: Follow @Oliver_Lane or e-mail: olane[at]breitbart.com
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.