Ireland and terrorism used to be almost synonymous for a time: at the height of the ‘Troubles’, no one dared to travel to Northern Ireland, and even traveling in the Republic was often considered dangerous. Rightly so: before the Peace Process took hold, random bombardments led to immense “collateral damage,” often aimed at civilians on purpose. Today, the threat from Republicans and loyal dissidents is generally less… but it is not completely gone.
However, there is a statistical fact: more tourists have been killed in Irish traffic, as opposed to the death toll from terrorist activities in Ireland. To put it: it is more dangerous to rent a car and hit the Irish roads than to take a drive through West Belfast.
Moreover, these days the perceived threat to the life and limbs of the tourist does not come from paramilitary organizations trying to force the problem in Northern Ireland. Instead, the world focuses (often in a very shortsighted way) on what is generally called “Islamic terrorism.” Designed worldwide by groups as shady as al-Qaeda or, increasingly, the nebulous entity that calls itself the Islamic State or Daesh (the Arabic acronym for IS).
With the atrocities recently committed in Paris and Brussels, it seems now is the time to ask:
How big is the threat of terrorism in Ireland?
The honest answer is, and I’m sorry to disappoint you: no one knows. The core of terrorism is not the explosion of bombs, but the fostering of a climate in which a bomb becomes a possibility everywhere, every day. And when it comes to this, IS has certainly succeeded: since the Paris attacks in November 2015, a high level of nervousness reigns.
Still, there is no indication that there is an imminent non-domestic terrorism threat to Ireland.
With that said, here are a few points worth remembering at all times:
- While it appears that there is no imminent threat of non-domestic terrorism in Ireland, the continuing threat of internal terrorism still exists. This is due in part to the fragmented paramilitary groups still “continuing the fight”, but also to former or current members of paramilitary groups waging a turf war in the lucrative segment of “organized crime.”
- While IS released a propaganda video naming Ireland as a direct enemy in November 2015, this was part of a group of sixty (!) Nations. No specific details. Which may indicate that IS staff cannot read Wikipedia, which has Ireland as a “contributor” against IS.
- While you may find some Muslims in Ireland who are sympathetic to the aims and objectives of IS, the vast majority abhor atrocities committed in the name of Islam; see the Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council website for details.
- While not high profile, there are an estimated three to four dozen volunteers from Ireland fighting in the ranks of IS; this can become problematic in the future.
Bottom line: yes, you may do well to exercise the same caution in Ireland as you would in Boston or Berlin. But at the same time: no, you don’t need to assume the worst and cancel your travel plans.
What to do if …
If you are waiting for a comprehensive guide on how to deal with a terrorist attack, this is not where you find it. I can only give you a few hints and guide you to the official websites. Which, to further confuse things, you may recommend different approaches.
Here are the basics if you are caught in a (potential) terrorist attack:
- If there is a security alert in the area, follow the instructions of staff and police in a calm manner. Most likely, this simply means evacuating an area in a more or less orderly manner, and in the shortest amount of time possible. Don’t stop to take a selfie or tweet about it …
- If there is a sudden commotion, if you hear gunshots, or if a detonation occurs, duck and cover. And stay down.
Now this is where the approaches change… and the examples of the United States and the United Kingdom are almost opposite.
- Police in the UK handed out leaflets telling people to ‘run, hide and say’, basically reiterating the two points above and then asking for the incident to be telephoned. And wait.
- Rather, the FBI goes one step further, advocating for ‘Execute. Hide. To struggle”. Telling us that as a last resort, and only if our life is in danger, it might be a good idea to try fighting again.
While I am a pacifist at heart, I also believe that once you have an AK47 or Armalite pointing at you, and you are asked to recite a verse from the Quran or the Lord’s Prayer … that might be the right time to deviate from Gandhi philosophy.
