Omagh! Could the same happen here?

Kia Ora,

Always looking to learn from others & in particular mistakes they have made or incidents they have faced.

So it was interesting to watch the doco drama on Maori TV about the bombing in Omagh(Northern Ireland) by the Real IRA.

Though the programme dealt very much with the effects on the families of those who lost someone to the bombing & the political process. I was more interested in the initial response by the authorities & how it would compare to a likely NZ response.
My understanding of Omagh has always been that a hoax bomb alert was called in, resulting in an evacuation to an area obviously identified by the bombers as an area outside the cordon, which they then detonated a vehicle bomb.

The Doco though gave the impression that the message was not that clear & some confusion existed as to where the actual bomb was. This may of been deliberate.

What it showed though that a common tactic used by terrorist groups was able to be employed on this occassion. That is placing a bomb or a secondary device (as shown in Hurt Locker) where groups such as those evacuated or responding services would gather.

In this instance probably what caught them out was the use of the recognized codewords the IRA used. The IRA starting using those to ensure they got their message across but to limit innocent casualties as they had found that counter productive to their cause.

So how would the response I saw on the Doco play out in NZ?

First point is the way in which the Irish people took the news. Bloody nusiance but best we move on. No arguments with the police. In NZ though most might move when informed of a bomb threat, many would argue. It would be yes those people next door have to move but my place is more important or I have important stuff to do.

The next issue is one I have raised before & that is the evacuation procedures which I know from both experience & anecdotal information can range from up to date to nothing more than a fire drill. Of course a fire drills actions are very different from a bomb threat.

Another area I have raised before is the areas where people gather whilst the threat is been dealt with. As shown in recent alerts so far nobody seems to have learnt the lesson & probably won't until something goes bang to control this part of the process.

As the recent incident here in Christchurch showed, both police & the public in one big huddle at the edge of the cordon. From the Doco the impression is that is exactly where they placed the vehicle bomb in Omagh, on the edge where they thought the cordon would be.

NZ is just a terrorist attack waiting to happen. Those sort of groupings are even more of a target for suicide bombers.

Won't happen in New Zealand! As the advert goes. Yeah Right! Given the opportunity.

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