Terrorist attacks are most often preceded by a period of high tension. If you don’t want to risk getting caught up in one, don’t travel. If you are determined to go somewhere dodgy read up on it in the press for weeks beforehand so you have a clear picture of what is going on. Read the local press when you arrive or get the hotel to translate it for you.
Stay in small or modest medium grade hotels. It’s the Hiltons and Continentals, and the sort of people who patronise them like wealthy businessmen, arms dealers and politicians, which tend to be the targets.
Spend as little time as possible in crowded central areas where there might be strategic targets like banks, government offices, military headquarters, and so on.
Stay alert. You might be on holiday or a business trip but the terrorist is always with us. Stay clear of strange looking packages, suitcases or handbags, which don’t appear to have an owner.
If you’re walking, take in all the details of the traffic. Particularly observe lorries and vans on double yellow lines, attended or unattended. If anybody runs from any sort of vehicle follow him as rapidly as possible: if he has set the bomb he probably knows where it’s safe!
If you’re driving, watch passengers in cars around you. They might shoot you from a passing car, so quickly put another car between you and any threats you might see! If there is any danger of explosions open the windows on both sides of the car very slightly. This will serve you to minimise internal injuries.
If you hear civil commotion, firing or explosions do not go to the window and peer out. In the Colombo bomb blast 32 people lost one or both eyes. All had gone to the window to look out after hearing machine gun fire, which preceded the bomb detonation. It could be noted that the only rubbernecks who retained their sight unimpaired were those wearing spectacles. Carrying a pair of dark sunglasses to don is a good idea.
If you are caught at the focus of a major incident get out unless you have a professional reason for sticking around. It’s against the Geneva Convention, but some terrorists tend to set a second bomb timed to go off once rescuers/investigators arrive. Top brass always turns up to take the scene in and they make attractive second targets. In the Colombo bombing, gas cylinders exploded in the heat two hours after the main incident, spraying shards of metal around. Fireballs may push out Glass that hasn’t already blown out. The cold water from hoses tends to fracture metal, as well as glass, which showers on people gathered below.
As you leave the area, ALWAYS stop at military or police checkpoints. You can be pretty sure these guys are now mega nervous. Pushing your way through could be fatal.
Make sure you carry good ID: passport; if a journalist, LOCAL press accreditation; international drivers licence issued by the AA and with a photograph always goes down better than a paper without picture.