ON Saturday, in Kabul, Afghanistan, twin suicide bombings killed 80 people and injured hundreds of others.
Recently, in Nice, France, a man drove a truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day, killing more than 80 people.
Last week, in Wurzburg, Germany, a young refugee attacked train passengers with a knife and an axe, injuring five people.
In Munich, Germany, on Friday, an 18-year-old youth of Iranian descent shot dead nine people at a shopping mall.
Meanwhile, at the Royal Air Force Marham base in Norfolk, England, authorities believe that there had been attempts by two suspected terrorists to abduct a serviceman.
The Islamic State terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the Kabul, Nice and Wurzburg incidents.
In the Munich attack, however, the motive remains unconfirmed.
Nowadays, terrorist attacks are always associated with IS.
In rare cases, like that in Munich, people who have mental problems are said to be behind the attacks.
Interestingly, in the Norfolk incident, the attempted abduction was used to cause a terrorist attack.
Terrorist attacks around the world are evolving.
There is no longer a need for detailed plans, proper equipment, large funding or a big group of people to make the attacks happen.
Nowadays, with a little money and tools that are easily available, terrorist attacks can be launched by small groups or a lone wolf, as had happened in Kabul, Nice and Wurzburg.
This has confounded security agencies.
The safety of the public is not the only concern of the agencies, which are also looking out for their personnel.
IS is not the only one carrying out fatal attacks.
There is also the threat of attacks being carried out by people with mental disorders and those who have been inspired by IS.
Over the weekend, it was reported that Malaysian police had earlier arrested 14 suspected IS militants and seized a home-made bomb weighing 1kg meant to be used in an attack in the Klang Valley.
Police also crippled a group of hired killers recently.
Due to the authorities’ successful operations against IS in the country, the group may hire groups or individuals to kill political leaders and high-ranking police officers.
Such collaborations are extremely possible.
IS is well-funded and can pay hired killers for the purpose.
In addition, it can also order the kidnapping of targeted people and their family members, as had happened in Norfolk.
IS is now the world’s most dangerous terrorist organisation.
If its members can kill their own brothers and carry out bombings in prominent places, like near the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, Saudi Arabia, anything is possible.
The nation’s security and intelligence agencies are not the only ones that need to be vigilant at all times and foil terrorist plots.
The public, too, must stand shoulder to shoulder with the agencies, and help the latter root out terror activities.
People can play a role by providing the agencies with information on suspicious behaviour that they witness, which can prevent attacks from occurring.
R. Paneir Selvam, Institute of Crime and Criminology, HELP University, Kuala Lumpur