In the aftermath of the Brussels attacks, everyone was asking themselves the same question. Why?
Since the multiple terrorist attacks that killed 31 people and injured hundreds of others earlier in the week, the media has been trying to answer the question of why from every angle. From individual analyses of the attackers, to broader criticisms of the Belgian state’s failings with regards to security and social integration, and counterterrorism as a whole, a single satisfactory answer is either impossible to find, or highly elusive.
What is known is that the city was not brought to its knees in the face of terror. A day later, public transport was running as usual - the only difference being security checks before entering some key metro stations. The streets were full of people, and the traffic was as chaotic as ever. The public fear and silence after the events on March 22nd lasted much less than that of the Brussels lockdown last November.
Following the Paris attacks, soldiers on the streets have become part of the cityscape. Just like the law of diminishing returns, a few more is barely noticeable. The images of a European capital being bombed are sadly not new. The blood, the dead, and the harrowed looks of the survivors have all featured in the news cycle more than any of us would like. There is no doubt that what happened was terrible, and the city will be mourning for a long time, but the truth is that the lockdown was a far more fearful time than now.
The idea of an imminent attack at any possible time and location was an extremely effective psychological warfare tactic. The city was brought to a standstill. The streets echoed. Instead, the terrorist attacks this week were closer to violent acts of classical warfare. And so, the response has been similar to that of the British during the Blitz in World War II: keep calm and carry on.
Perhaps we have become insensitive. Either that, or there has been a paradigm shift. During the lockdown, we were waiting for something to happen. Now that it has, the city can finally get on with dealing with it.
