Ian Collins: "We Need To Not Be Stupid In Response To Terror Attacks"

18 August 2017, 09:05 | Updated: 18 August 2017, 09:29

As emotions run high following terror attacks in Spain, Ian Collins urges everyone to take a rational view.

On Thursday afternoon a man drove a van into pedestrians on Barcelona’s busy Las Ramblas, killing 13 and injuring 100 people.

Hours later on Friday morning, police shot dead five suspected terrorists after they drove into people in Cambrils, not far from Barcelona.

As always after such incidents some are calling for extreme action to deal with the terrorist threat. Ian Collins says we all need to take a step back.

“I want to recognise the problem. I want to recognise that we need to do more. We all do.

“But let’s be grown up about this. Let’s not be stupid and castigate an entire group of people based on the behaviour of a slim minority.”

The horror of such incidents provokes strong views and divisions, which Ian is aware of.

“I can already hear it, ‘oh, he’s being politically correct!’

“I’m not being politically correct, I’m just stating a fact. Unless I’m living in some sort of huge conspiratorial bubble that I’m somehow not party to.”

He cites his personal experience with Muslims as a reason why we should all be rational when responding to terrorist atrocities.

“All of those people are either telling me an entire crock of lies, to my face, every time I engage with them on the telephone, every time I meet with them.

“All of those guys are lying to me? I don’t believe that. I don’t believe I’m being taken for a mug. I don’t believe I’m being hoodwinked.

“I don’t believe that.”