Terrorism and violence

When you hear about terrorism or violence on the news this can make you feel scared. You don't have to go through this alone, there's always support available to you.

On this page

What is terrorism?

Terrorism is when someone, or a group of people, uses violence, threats and fear to try to scare other people. A person who does this is called a terrorist. It might be politics, religion or culture that make terrorists believe violence and hate are OK.

It's important to remember that there's no one religion, culture or set of political beliefs that make someone more likely to become a terrorist. They could be any gender, any age and any race, culture or religion.

Terrorism is a criminal act and is condemned worldwide. If you’re worried about anything, you can talk to a Childline counsellor.

Terrorist attacks in the UK: Staying safe

While you might feel like an attack could happen at any time, it's important to remember that the likelihood of a terrorist attack in the UK is low. The police and security services are always working to help keep everyone safe and finding new ways to protect the UK.

If you’re worried about staying safe when you’re going out, remember to:

  • Plan where you’re going and if you feel unsafe, speak to someone you trust or a staff member in a public place.
  • Pay attention to what’s going on around you and speak to a police officer or a member of staff if you see anything suspicious.
  • Look around for emergency exits.
  • Remind yourself that attacks or emergencies are very rare, and that security is there to protect you.
  • Keep your mobile phone with you so you can contact friends and family if needed.

In the rare event of an attack follow the Government’s advice to run, hide, tell.