ESTERO, Fla. - The terrorist attack in Manchester, England has some event venues in Southwest Florida closely examining their security measures. One security expert told Fox 4 that like the incident in Manchester, the outside of such venues are most vulnerable to attack.
"This is the biggest challenge for any security outfit or any arena: to protect somebody in the outside parking lots," said Walt Zalisko, a private investigator and retired police chief.
The suspected terrorist who killed more than 20 people and injured dozens of others at an Ariana Grande concert this week found the same vulnerability, blowing himself up near the arena doors as people were leaving the concert.
Scott Saxon, general manager of the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall said the attack was a wake-up call.
"When an event like this happens, that's one of the important things, to have a discussion with the staff and the security: 'OK, now we need to think about outside as well,'" Saxon said.
After the terror attack in Paris, France in November 2015 which killed 130 people, security staff at Barbara B. Mann began performing bag checks. It's a practice that's also performed during events - such as hockey games and concerts - at Germain Arena in Estero.
Saxon said that his security officers patrol the outside of the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall during shows.
"We also have an officer that completely roams the perimeter at night," he said.
Zalisko believes that venues should be keeping a close eye on their outside areas electronically.
"Have somebody watching the parking lots with closed circuit TVs," he said.
A spokesman for Artis-Naples said that their team constantly evaluates security at their performance venues. Fox 4 is still waiting to hear back from administration at Florida Gulf Coast University about security measures at Alico Arena, which is on FGCU's campus.
