An effective security service is based on a system of circles that works outwards from an inner ring of security; the more circles you have, the safer you will be, according to Israeli security expert Colonel Amit Assa.
"The more circles you surround yourself with, you will be able to locate and to prevent the attacker from attacking," said Assa, a former member of Israel's legendary Shabak Intelligence Service with over 25 years of experience in the management of numerous counter-terrorist defense mechanisms.
Assa said that European airports have less security than in Israel, where security measures begin a long way before check-in.
"In Israel we are taking measures much further back, much further away from the airport itself and the check-in, before people get into the place. There are a few ways, but this is the main point."
Assa said that security teams have to be aware of suspicious individuals, but so do ordinary members of the public.
"The security has to locate the potential attacker before he attacks. So, the security personnel have to locate them before, with a lot of indicators that we can teach the security personnel to locate."
"It is very easy to see that these three people (the terrorists at Brussels Airport) were carrying a trolley without any luggage. It's one indicator that everybody can see, that it's strange. That's one thing, but there are a lot of indicators that can (make) you suspect somebody, and he will be checked before he will be able to do anything."
Assa said that in addition to the signs of an imminent terrorist attack, it is important to spot when a terrorist is making plans prior to carrying out an attack.
"When we are talking about the behavior of the attacker, we know that he will not attack immediately. He needs to plan, he needs to be there, he needs to collect information. So, his first action surrounding us is not the attack itself; he will be with us long before."
"Even when he will attack, it will take him a few minutes to prepare himself. This is the time that not just the security team, also members of the public can suspect somebody before he carries out an action, and when we are training security personnel, we are talking about the previous actions that somebody can take before he will attack."
"Everybody from the public can be more aware of a few indicators, to suspect somebody, to call a policeman, and to check him."
If a terrorist attack has not been prevented, there are also steps to bear in mind for the aftermath, Assa said.
"Just take cover in the safest place that you can see, and lay down very low because there could be another blast or shooting, and the attacker could be in the area for a few minutes before the security personnel act."
Assa said that it is important for all members of the public to keep anti-terror safety procedures in mind, in the same way as they are encouraged to remember measures for emergency first-aid.
This kind of preparation will help to stop people from panicking if an attack does happen, but also save excessive worrying about the possibility of terrorism, he said.
"Life is full of frightening and dangerous things that can happen on the street, a criminal or any other action, and we have to prepared and aware of it, not paranoid."
"If you know that something that can happen and you take measures to secure yourself, the time is well spent. At the end, you open your doors and go outside with no fear, because that's life."
