Why do terrorists like to use cars as weapons?

Cars are increasingly becoming the weapon of choice for many terrorists. The reason is that they are easy to obtain and their effects are as deadly as bombs or guns.

From Nice (France) to Berlin (Germany), London (UK) and now Barcelona (Spain), more and more cities are suffering horrific terrorist attacks caused by cars.

The truck used to attack the Christmas market in Berlin Photo: SkyNews

According to SkyNews, for police and security forces, plots involving cars are particularly problematic and difficult to track. Traditional terrorist plots involving explosives and guns are much easier for intelligence and authorities to track.

Sophisticated bomb or gun plots often involve several people, but simple attacks are often carried out by a single person. If the person does not disclose the plan to anyone, the plot is almost impossible to detect.

A car attack can be easily carried out because cars and trucks are easily rented or stolen. The attack can be carried out immediately and the car can be used to kill and injure many people.

In three recent attacks in the UK, trucks were used as weapons. At Westminster, London Bridge and Finsbury Park, attackers carried out their attacks using cars.

According to British officials, there are more than 3,000 extremists across the country who could commit violence at any time. Meanwhile, the police and security forces have limited resources, they cannot monitor everyone and so can only select priority subjects for close surveillance.

What happened in Britain is being repeated in many other European cities, where authorities are facing a growing terrorist threat.

In Britain, France and Germany, authorities have placed barriers at entrances and exits in areas with large crowds, the idea being that at least an attacker behind the wheel will be stopped from carrying out a massacre in a crowded area.

According to Vietnamnet.vn