Ways to prevent terrorist truck attacks

“technology is there, but it is not tested on a large scale”, Eneroth said, as quoted by The Local.

Eneroth hopes to begin testing geo-gards early next year.

Stockholm suffered a terrorist attack in April in which a stolen van was used to hit pedestrians along Druntinggatan, a busy street in the shopping district. A total of five people were killed and 14 injured.

Since then, there has been a flood of similar attacks in Nice, Berlin, London, Charlottesville and recently New York. Swedish authorities have now focused on ways to improve security.

“Security on our pedestrian streets has improved, but after the terrorist attack we have thrown more stone lions and ordered more serious versions coming next year”, said Daniel Halldén, Stockholm Transport Commissioner, as mentioned by the NSD.

The “Luans” are said to weigh three times as many as the current versions and, although not designed to act as a wall, will reduce the higher speed that potential attackers can reach in the future, forcing them to leave.

However, other large urban areas in Sweden lag behind. In Gothenburg, no concrete barrier has yet been established, with the authority of the city's transport due to current plans for their construction in December. Meanwhile, in Malmo, authorities are choosing for temporary structures that will be established only during major events.