TfL denies FOI request about train performance statistics over concerns of terrorism

[Cloud Strife]

I'm not a frequent user of LU but can anyone point to existing measures that would stop a repeat of a similar attack in 2025?

Theoretically, it's not that difficult to link together different pieces of information. For instance, if you know that Mr Potential Terrorist has taken a flight to Saudi Arabia and your own information tells you that he has no family connection to there, then you can set up AI video recognition systems to ping the police if he's seen in a public place with a backpack.

But realistically, nothing much has changed in terms of publicly visible measures because there's not much that you can actually do. Checking every backpack and suitcase on entry to LU is not realistic, all you can do is be vigilant and use data to identify suspicious behaviour. The type of person who is likely to be radicalised is also not likely to be very security conscious, and I also wouldn't underestimate the will of religious communities to report suspicious behaviour in their midst too.

This is why "security through obscurity" simply doesn't work, as if you want to cause chaos on LU, there are plenty of ways of doing it without needing to dive into complicated systems. If you look back at Operation Banner in Northern Ireland, the Army achieved the most success by simply dominating the ground. For example, in South Armagh, the large amount of watchtowers, surveillance and constant unpredictable patrols pretty much forced the South Armagh Brigade into taking a lot of risks that they wouldn't have normally taken.