FLORIAN PEIL: How we are now focusing on our security

How dangerous has it become after the outbreak of war in the Middle East and its repercussions in Europe - above demonstration in Vienna? We wanted to know from security advisor Florian Peil - he is the author of the books "Terrorism. How we can protect ourselves" and "The 5 Rings of Security" - how he assesses the situation and how each of us can protect ourselves.

SPARTANAT: The war in the Middle East, the unrest in our region: Many suddenly think of security. But how unsafe is the situation in your opinion?

Florian Peil: The security situation has fundamentally changed since about 2014 - also in Europe. The situation has become more dynamic and significantly more complex. Existing conflicts that have long been ignored or downplayed by society and politics are now forcefully pushing to the surface.

In addition to the war in Ukraine, we now have the old conflict in the Middle East, which has flared up again most violently with the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel. These conflicts also have direct negative effects on the security situation in Europe. This includes domestic conflicts here, as well as the threat of terrorist attacks by various actors.

SPARTANAT: Can you explain this in more detail?

Florian Peil: The greatest terrorist threat continues to come from Islamist terrorists. They now sense opportunity after the Hamas attack on Israel. Israel has shown weakness, and the West is perceived as weak as well.

In addition, since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in extremism. We now have a problem with right-wing terrorism and Reichsbürger. Additionally, new forms of extremism have emerged that defy classification into traditional phenomena. And today, even in left-wing extremism, we have actors who are on the verge of terrorism.

Furthermore, there is a growing potential for conflict in European societies. This is also a result of the significantly increased number of refugees since 2015, who have come to Europe mainly from crisis regions. These people have brought the conflicts from their home countries with them and are now also playing them out here.

The sense of security for many people has been significantly diminished in recent years. Also, from my personal environment, I know that many people no longer feel safe in city centers, especially women and girls.

This will occupy and challenge us in the coming years and decades. The security authorities, especially the police, are already operating at their limits.

SPARTANAT: Terrorism is something abstract until it affects us. What are the most important tips you would have as an experienced security expert - in case of emergency?

Florian Peil: Terrorism can affect us in two ways: as direct victims of an attack or passively as consumers of news and social media. These are two levels on which terrorists can harm us.

"We should not look at images of attacks, it can traumatize."

I strongly recommend not looking at any photos and videos of attacks and victims unless you are professionally obliged to do so. These images can lead to trauma, especially if they appear in your feed unprepared mentally.

Regarding the practical aspect, there are action options even in the case of terrorist attacks. Terrorists can carry out explosive attacks alone or in groups, sometimes as suicide attackers, act as active shooters, or use stabbing weapons. Finally, there is also the modus operandi of vehicular attacks. In complex attacks, it can be a combination of different tactics.

Terrorist attacks are complex situations. There are specific instructions for each variant, which I describe in detail in my book. In general: seek cover, move away from noise. Be oriented, know escape routes. So, I must have a plan and protocol for dangerous situations that I can simply follow. Under stress, I can no longer think clearly and make bad decisions. So I must make the right decision beforehand. Therefore, I must have a thoroughly calibrated mindset - and hopefully practical training as well.

SPARTANAT: In most cases, it can be prevented that we end up in such a situation. How do you maintain vigilance so that you stay protected?

Florian Peil: There are various tools that help us establish security and not become victims of a terrorist attack at all. I describe these tools in my book "The 5 Rings of Security". First of all, there is the Mindset again. A properly calibrated mindset also includes knowledge of the current threat situation in my specific context. In terms of terrorism, this means knowing that there is a terrorist threat, how high it is, what actors there are, and how they roughly operate. When I know all this, I can prepare and adapt accordingly.

"A trained situational awareness is a good danger radar."

Tool number two is a trained situational awareness, the so-called danger radar. I constantly scan my own environment and therefore know where I am, which people are around me, where possible escape routes are, etc. This makes me generally able to identify potential threats early and act accordingly. This gives me time and therefore more action options.

Sometimes you just have bad luck and no chance, for example in the case of an explosive attack. If a car bomb explodes while I happen to be standing next to it, then, of course, my situational awareness won't help me much. It is more about whether I misjudged or ignored the threat and find myself in the wrong place at the wrong time. This brings us back to the mindset.

SPARTANAT: We talk about behavior, many rely on equipment. What equipment can help us if we want to protect ourselves? And what is more important?

Florian Peil: Security starts in the mind. Again: Mindset. Without the right mindset, the best equipment is of no use. The problem often lies in people buying some equipment and then thinking they are prepared. The more expensive the equipment, the better the preparation. This is of course nonsense and sometimes even dangerous.

I have often observed that people become complacent because they have equipment - which they often can't handle properly because they haven't practiced with it. Without a mindset, everything is useless.

I myself am quite minimalist when it comes to equipment. A small EDC is of course useful: a small knife (according to the respective legal requirements), flashlight, smartphone. I always have a cloth with me that I can use as a face mask, for example, to avoid inhaling concrete dust or smoke directly. A signaling whistle can also help if you have been buried or injured.

SPARTANAT: If the worst case scenario occurs, what is your most important tip for survival - besides having read your books 😉

Florian Peil: The books are meant to provide guidance. They of course cannot replace behavior in extreme situations.

"In a dangerous situation, we do not act as glamorous as we imagine..."

My most important tip: Training. Mental preparation. So again, the right mindset. I have to visualize situations, play them out in my head - and then ideally train under nearly realistic conditions. Safety trainings help if I have not undergone appropriate training.

In training, I can learn about my own limits. The key insight is usually that in a dangerous situation, you do not act as glamorous as you had imagined beforehand in your mind. The reaction under high stress can only be improved through consistent training.

FLORIAN PEIL is a security consultant specializing in economic security, travel security, and personal security. He develops security concepts for companies, organizations, and at-risk individuals and trains people for a confident handling of risks and dangers. Previously, Florian Peil was an employee of a security authority in the field of counter-terrorism. The Islamic scholar is a specialist for the region of the Middle East and North Africa.

His highly recommended books:

- "Die 5 Ringe der Sicherheit"

- "Terrorismus. Wie wir uns schützen können"

are available directly at our SPARTANAT SHOP.

FLORIAN PEIL on the internet