Places of mass gathering
Places of mass gathering are characterised by the concentration of people on a predictable basis, in venues or precincts that are open or enclosed - such as sporting venues, tourist attractions and publictransport hubs.
They are potentially attractive targets for terrorist attack. By their very nature, these places provide easy access for the congregation or transit of large volumes of people with minimal physical restrictions. This presents terrorists with various opportunities for acts of symbolism, high impact imagery, mass casualties and economic loss.
Places of mass gathering do not fit the traditional definition of critical infrastructure as it is their visitors, customers and patrons that would be targeted in addition to the buildings themselves.
National Counter Terrorism Committee (NCTC) – National Approach
The NCTC endorsed National Guidelines for the Protection of Places of Mass Gatherings from Terrorism, has been developed to ensure a nationally consistent approach to protection of places of mass gathering.