Star comment: Time has come to get tough on terror
It is impossible for right-thinking people to comprehend the level of hatred that drives someone to blow themselves up in a crowd of children and young people.
The terror attack on Manchester Arena has shocked the nation. There is absolutely no justification and no defence for deliberately targeting youngsters in this way.
Lives have been lost, families torn apart and a country has been left in mourning.
Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by this shocking incident, which killed 22 people and injured dozens of others.
Over the course of the next few days we will undoubtedly learn more about the attack and the level of planning that was involved in it.
But one thing holds true as we attempt to come to terms with the worst terrorist incident in the UK since the 7/7 bombings: it is time we started to get tough on terrorism.
We are told by the authorities that by their very nature, so-called lone wolf attacks are difficult to prevent.
But there is no way that any type of planned attack should be allowed to happen at a concert hall packed with 20,000 people.
This is the worst terrorist incident in Britain for 12 years, but it demonstrates that our security services must be prepared at all times.
Every terrorist incident is one too many.
In recent years it has become apparent that lone wolf style attacks have become a favoured method of destruction for terrorists.
This was seen with devastating effects in March with the attack on Westminster.
It places the emphasis firmly on the authorities to monitor suspects as thoroughly as possible. They must get it right every single time.
There also needs to be an urgent rethink on the policy of allowing ISIS supporters back from battlegrounds in places such as Syria to wander the streets of the UK.
Do the authorities genuinely expect people who have been fighting against western values to fall back into line when they return to British society?
Anyone who may have been radicalised must be considered a threat to the safety of the wider British public.
Today’s liberal establishment would never consider the case for internment, but surely even they must now see that Britain is under an ever-increasing threat from terrorism.
There is a strong case for increased surveillance. Measures allowing the police to keep closer tabs on terror suspects must be brought in as a matter of urgency.
And far stricter sentences must be available to the courts for those who are found guilty of being involved in terrorist attacks.
The time for attempting to tackle this problem with weak-minded liberal attitudes has long passed.
As a nation we must accept that danger is in our midst. We need to adopt a more appropriate approach to the threat that our country faces.
As far as our political leaders are concerned, this atrocity should be considered a wake up call.
This is particularly true for Jeremy Corbyn, who seemingly finds it impossible to condemn the murderous actions of the IRA.
It also brings into sharp focus Theresa May’s time in the Home Office. With her background, she should have expert knowledge of how to deal with this type of incident over the long term.
Her already tired sounding mantra of strong and stable leadership needs to be shown to have some substance.
At this time of great despair this country needs more than tough words and promises.
The public needs to see a new, stronger approach if we are to prevail in the face of the terrorist threat.
