GEETIMES'Blog: Terror alert for British vicars as experts warn religious leaders 'a terrorist attack on churches is coming'

Experts warn an attack on a British church 'is coming'

Religious leaders in the UK are being warned to increase security at churches - and avoid wearing dog collars in public - as they are at high risk of being targeted by extremists.

New counter terrorism advice is being urgently issued to vicars and churches across the UK this week over fears an attack on British religious institutions is now likely.
The new measures follow the murder of a priest by two ISIS terrorists in France last month, amid fears the same could now happen in the UK.
Experts warn that a terrorist attack on churches "is coming." Places of worship in the UK, which are 'easy targets' for extremists, are now being urged to take precautions and beef up security.
A draft of the measures being issued and seen by Mirror Online - called Counter Terrorism Advice for Churches - urges religious leaders to prepare for incidents and to be on alert for attackers, who are likely to be armed with knives.

Catholic priest Jacques Hamel, 85, had his throat slit by knife-wielding assailants wearing fake explosive belts when he was taken hostage at his church in Normandy on July 26.
The slaying has prompted guidance for religious institutions in the UK to be rewritten.
This is being done by former police officer Nick Tolson, who has advised the Home Office on counter-terrorism measures since 2012. He is writing the measures for National Churchwatch - which produces personal safety advice to people who work at places of worship.

Nick Tolson of National Churchwatch who advises the Home Office on counter-terrorism

Mr Tolson told Mirror Online: "Since the French attack we have to look at the possibility of an attack on a church in this country. The risk level has gone up.
"Churches in the past were considered low risk - now we know an attack is coming... and churches are one of the easy targets.
"It's likely to be a knife - not a machine gun, but we are covering that too."

A policeman reacts as he secures a position in front of the city hall — The attack on the priest shocked the whole of France - and the Home Office is worried it could happen in the UK

As well as advising religious leaders how to avoid being targeted, the measures give directions about what to do if an attack takes place. It reads: "If someone produces weapons during a service (and this will usually be a knife or blunt instrument) then you will need to get people out of the church.
"They are at risk, it only takes seconds for someone to stab a large number of people as we have seen."
It also advises religious leaders how to handle Sunday School children who may get separated from their parents in the event of an attack.
It continues: "Obviously the safety of children is paramount and understandably the parents will be frantic."

Church with Cross — Although there is no specific threat of an attack - all churches are being warned to be on their guard

The document - which is illustrated with images of handguns and semi-automatic AK-47 rifles - stresses the need to respond quickly "to give you the best chance of survival".
It says: "It does not matter whether they have a pistol, rifle or a machine gun. A firearm will kill a large number of people very quickly."

French CRS police stand guard in front of the church a day after a hostage-taking in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray near Rouen in Normandy, France — There are worries that a British church could be targeted like in France

The document also gives advice on:

Preparing for a terrorist attack
CCTV, alarms and controlling entrances
Challenging suspicious people
Dealing with disturbances during services
Getting distance from the attacker or scene of the incident
Taking cover in the event of 'gunfire or explosions'.

Since 1996 eight members of the clergy have been murdered in the UK - all of them killed with knives.

Flowers at the scene of the attack at Eglise de St Etienne in Rouen — Flowers at the scene of the French attack at Eglise de St Etienne in Rouen

A vicar, who declined to be named, told Mirror Online they have been warned by church diocese officials not to wear their dog collars in public because it marks them out as a potential target. He claimed they have also been warned to avoid being in churches on their own.
Mr Tolson is the Christian representative on the Places of Worship Security Committee at the Counter Extremism Directorate at the Home Office. Other members of the committee are Sikh, Muslim and Hindu.
He is updating the Government's 2009 document 'Counter terrorism protective security advice for places of worship' - which he describes as "terribly outdated" and "impractical" and "written by people who don't work in a church".

St Matthews Church — An attack on a UK church is thought likely to happen since the French priest attack

Mr Tolson added: "We used to say hide under the table but (terrorists) will come and shoot you - now it's all about running away...
"If you saw (the attacks) in Nice the police were shouting to run - the new guidance is about getting distance."
The advice details "examples of good cover" in the event of an attack, which includes hiding behind substantial brickwork and the bases of large live trees. It advises against concealing yourself behind car doors and wooden fences.
However Mr Tolson insists churches need to continue to operate in the community and be "open."

Members of French special police forces of Research and Intervention Brigade — The French priest attack makes people believe we could see similar scenes in the UK

He admits he has heard concerns raised about wearing a dog collar in public at seminars with clergy he's attended - but disagrees with religious leaders changing how they normally act.
He added: "When I ask why, they says it's because they don't want to be identified, but if you stop people wearing them they feel their faith is challenged.
"It's about teaching people to react to the situation in front of them."

Priest Collar — One vicar said they had been advised not to wear a dog collar in public

One vicar Mirror Online spoke to, who declined to be named, said they had been told:

Not to wear dog collars in public which identify them as being in the clergy
Not to be in their church alone by themselves at any time
To beef up security at their church - despite concerns over the cost

He told Mirror Online: "I've been told not to wear my dog collar in public to identify myself.
"I've also been told to not be in the church by myself - but it would cost me too much to pay someone to come with me to open up every day.
"There are government schemes you can apply for funding to improve security but you have to contribute 20% - I know that would bankrupt my church and I can't risk that."
Churches in the UK have insisted they will remain open to all despite the threat of attack.

AK47 assault rifles — The advice states a knife is the most likely weapon - but that guns like AK-47s could be used

Since the French attack in July anti-terrorism police have warned churches to be on alert - although they say they have no specific intelligence relating to planned attacks on Christians.
The Deputy Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Neil Basu QPM, wrote to UK church congregations as a direct response to "the terrible murder of Father Jacques Hamel in France".
In his letter he wrote: "We are again reminded of the indiscriminate nature of terrorism and the brutal and senseless actions of these criminals."

Mr Basu urged churches to immediately review their security.
He added: "Church leaders and their congregations here in the UK should remain alert not alarmed.

The Met police wrote to all churches in the UK after the France attack warning them

"There is no current intelligence to suggest any attack planning of this nature in this country.
"However I know these are troubling times and it makes sense for all church leaders to review their security plans and to encourage their flock to be vigilant."
On the same day as the Normandy murder - by coincidence - the Government announced "funding is available to places of worship stop hate crimes".
Churches, mosques and temples have also been invited to bid for grants from the £2.4million fund "if they can show that they are at risk of attack from religious hate crimes".
The scheme covers security equipment - but not the cost of recruiting security personnel.
It can include money for:

CCTV systems
perimeter fencing and intruder alarms
security doors and access gates
bollards, locks and external lighting

Places of worship need to contribute 20% of the total costs - and the fund will not cover annual service charges or maintenance costs.
Synagogues are exempt from the scheme as they can apply for a separate grant from the Community Security Trust - a charity that provides protection services to Britain’s Jewish communities.
The scheme was launched by home affairs minister Amber Rudd as she outlined a Hate Crime Action Plan.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd acknowledges that action need to be taken over hate crimes aimed at Christians

She said: "Those who practise hatred send out a message that it’s okay to abuse and attack others because of their nationality, ethnicity or religious background; that it’s okay to disregard our shared values and promote the intolerance that causes enormous harm to communities and individuals.
“Well, I have a very clear message for them. We will not stand for it. Hatred has no place whatsoever in a 21st century Great Britain that works for everyone.
“We are Great Britain because we are united by values such as democracy, free speech, mutual respect and opportunity for all.
"We are the sum of all our parts - a proud, diverse society. Hatred does not get a seat at the table, and we will do everything we can to stamp it out.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is worried about anti-Christian hate crimes

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has previously also spoken out against the rise in racist incidents - which are on the rise since the Brexit vote.
At the Church of England’s General Synod in York in July - before the attack - he said: “It is perfectly clear that the result and the referendum campaign had “exposed deep divisions in our society, of which we were aware already.
“The result [of the referendum] has released a latent racism and xenophobia in all sectors, and challenges the prevailing consensus of tolerance and acceptance, thus threatening other areas of welcome liberalisation."

Updated 07:19, 30 Aug 2016
By Stephen Jones