Over the last years, big cities in both the EU and the US have been targeted by acts of terrorism. In response to such a threat, cities have tried to adopt innovative measures to neutralise any possible terrorist attacks to their tangible and intangible assets, as well as invest in programmes and projects aimed at preventing individuals from being targets and radicalised by jihadist recruiters. While there is no one-size-fits-all model, urban responses have shown that an integrated approach that combines the efforts of local and national authorities is imperative for minimising the risks that big cities are facing. In this context, urban planning through infrastructural changes aimed at preventing and reducing the impact of terrorist attacks, and the role of the police, local authorities, communities and front-line practitioners in preventing jihadist radicalisation need to be further explored.

This European Policy Centre Policy Dialogue, organised in cooperation with the U.S. Mission to the European Union, looked at the measures taken by big cities in the EU and the US to prevent terrorism and jihadist radicalisation and how effective they have been.

Speakers included: Amanda Paul, Senior Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre, Hans Bonte, Mayor of Vilvoorde, Belgium, Blas Nuñez-Neto, Senior Policy Researcher, RAND Corporation, Wilfried Covent, Head of Security, Brussels Airport & Chairman ACI-Europe Security Committee.