THE EFFECTS OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS ON PUBLIC WORRY OF FUTURE ATTACKS, VIEWS OF THE POLICE AND SOCIAL COHESION

Despite a growing body of research examining the psychological effects of terrorist incidents, there remains comparatively little empirical assessment of their impacts on citizens' worry about further attacks, perceptions of the police or social cohesion. Drawing on interviews with nearly 100,000 London residents, we find higher levels of worry following most domestic attacks. Improvements in overall ratings of the police are tempered by more negative assessments of their ability to handle future threats. We also find that far-right incidents are less closely linked to changes in public ratings of the police and concerns about future attacks compared to Islamic terror attacks. Effects on social cohesion are less predictable. We find reductions in cohesion following some attacks but increases following others.

Automated summary

Research shows that most domestic attacks lead to increased worry about future attacks and negative perceptions of the police, with differences in the impact of far-right and Islamic terror attacks on public ratings and concerns. Changes in social cohesion following attacks are complex, sometimes decreasing and sometimes increasing.