Bali bombing 'good' for security firms

Bali bombing 'good' for security firms

Associated Press, Hong Kong

Terrorism has proven to be good business for security companies - who provide everything from armed guards to full-scale corporate evacuations - and the Bali bombing has boosted demand even further, executives said Wednesday.

Right after the deadly attacks on the Indonesian resort island, requests for new or enhanced security systems jumped by 30 percent to 40 percent at Apro Technology in Singapore.

"Those that responded immediately were from high-profile companies or they were companies from high-profile countries like Australia and the United States," said Ignatius Kahn, marketing manager at Apro, which provides guards and security systems.

While Bali hasn't prompted the same deluge of calls that poured in after the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington - which spurred many to take security seriously - some who had viewed Bali as safe were now wondering what other apparently safe places could be in danger.

"Those who have not done anything since Sept. 11 because they had this perception that nothing would happen here - well, I think they are reconsidering," Kahn said.

Things were much the same at other regional security companies.

"Our Indonesian office has already been busy," said Aaron Leung, a security consultant with Pinkerton (Hong Kong) Ltd. "Not only because of the bombing, but because it is a volatile country. After the bombing - something like this will keep them extra busy."

Leung wouldn't predict how much more business might come in. "It's not like 400 percent or 500 percent," he said.

At Political & Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd. in Hong Kong, analyst Bob Broadfoot had just been working on an island-by- island assessment of the risks that companies face in the Indonesian archipelago.

"Bali we would have rated as a low risk," Broadfoot said.

However, Broadfoot warned the quick assessments of who was responsible, with many blaming the al-Qaida terror network or Jemaah Islamiyah, which wants to establish a pan-Islamic state in Southeast Asia, could be detrimental.

Such conclusions can feed on themselves, when in reality the risks following the Bali bombing are quite different depending on whether the perpetrators were foreigners who might strike elsewhere, or homegrown groups seeking to make a political point specifically in Indonesia, he said.

"It's really discouraging to see people jump to conclusions," Broadfoot said. "Some people were immediately saying it's al- Qaida. If that's the case, then it's significant for other countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong. If they can pick a Bali they can pick an anyplace."

Leung said tougher security measures taken across Asia over the past year have varied from country to country, based on perceived threats in different locations.

In mainland China, some companies hired dedicated staffers to screen mail, fearing an anthrax crisis like the one in the U.S.

In Hong Kong, which isn't seen as a high-risk area, companies have been more likely to make it harder for outsiders to enter their places of business, by installing keypad door locks or giving employees cards that must be swiped to gain access.

One five-star hotel in Hong Kong has installed an X-ray machine and a device that detects minute particles of explosives, and workers now check all mail and parcels going in, Leung said. He declined to identify the hotel.

Kahn said while much can be done to protect private businesses or homes it can be difficult to protect restaurants and bars like the ones targeted in Bali.

Because they are by nature open to the public, bars and restaurants should try installing cameras in plain view as a deterrent and make sure that parking lots aren't too close - so terrorists would find it harder to carry out car bombings, Kahn said.