THE attack in London on Wednesday is a sure reminder that terrorism continues to pose challenges to governments and wreak havoc in people’s lives. When the knife-wielding, British born, 52-year-old Khalid Masood drove a SUV vehicle over the Westminster Bridge and into that crowd, it was clearly meant to be a weapon to kill or maim. The extremist Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL) has since taken credit for it, calling Masood “a solider.”

The attack resulted in the fatal stabbing of a police officer who sought to corral the knife and prevent the attacker from storming the Parliament Building, and he was fatally shot by the police. Two other persons died and several were injured.

The British Parliament represents the oldest English-speaking government. As members had to be on lockdown, reporters and politicians seeking cover within, the Scottish parliament aborted its debate for its independence. The targeting of this area would influence thinking that the act was designed to send a message to this seat of power and system of governance.

Guyana and Britain share a relationship that goes back centuries. It is one, notwithstanding some unsavoury experiences, that is valued and cherished. Guyana can call the United Kingdom friend and ally, and in this momentary setback our hearts are with the people.

The mindset behind this form of terrorism the world is witnessing is home-grown and has its grassroots in an ideology that disdains or dislikes western culture. Careful observation will notice that these senseless acts are not only confined to targeting western countries. Middle Eastern societies and Muslims are also victims of this chaos if they are considered progressive or adapting to western culture.

Terrorists take extreme measures to make a statement and casualties are immaterial to them. The new matter-of-fact or barbaric approach to instill terror or fear into the hearts of the western world could cause undue panic. Today, everyone is on high alert and tense around areas and things once taken for granted. There is fear of going about activities of daily living and it seems as though there is no limit to the terrorists’ method to creating chaos and violence.

Unlike World War I and II, where the enemy was known, now it can be anybody, from a child to an elderly person. This brings into question how diplomacy can bring an end to terrorism, or is it better to see such acts as having to be treated as a cancer, where the cure and prevention become eradication. Evidently, it would pose difficulty to reason with those who are prepared to mindlessly follow a mission for a cause that results in the destruction of others.

These vile acts also create anguish in the targeted societies, and where fear would be instinctive reaction, such fear can give fodder to the new wave of far-right populism that views such acts as unique to, or the responsibility of a particular group, deserving to be ostracised and annihilated. Xenophobia still remains the most ineffective weapon to fight terrorism, given that terrorists use it as a recruiting tool to further their destructive agenda.

Understandably, given that the purveyors of this chaos have no strategic plan but to instill fear, it makes it very dangerous not knowing when it will end.  The funding for the masterminds behind these barbaric acts come from oil, etc., where mercenaries take a country’s natural resources as means of organising around their vision and putting structure to their plans.

The internet has become a major recruiting tool for terrorism. And while it remains a great resource of the modern era in that persons can access knowledge, information and ideas, and transact business anywhere around the world, persons with evil thoughts use it to do bad things. And unfortunately, with this technology even after the masterminds are dead their plans live. Evil has no limits and the challenge for governments is staying one step ahead of it.