Manchester Arena bombing: where fiction becomes fact

摘要

It cannot be said to be ironic when exercise play during the FIRE Congress suddenly crosses the divide between fact and fiction. Sadly all too often these days the gap between the two representations of the world narrows, making it easier for the world to take on an image that is apparently fictional in its nature. In Manchester Arena on the evening of May 22 that divide between fiction and fact was crossed. What had been a desk top exercise held at the Congress suddenly took on a frightening reality. This was heighted by the fact that within 24-hours the threat level in the United Kingdom was increased to Critical, an aspect played out in the Congress scenario. This level is its highest setting. It is the third time that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre has increased the level. On the two previous occasions it remained at that level for four days.