Vigilance is the key to keeping our city safe

And in recent years that threat seems to have grown and grown.

With the rise of Isil, there have been untold atrocities across the globe.

No-one will forget the massacre at the Bataclan club in Paris or the recent horrific attack in Nice.

But there have been countless other incidents, both large and small.

They only go to highlight that it literally could happen anywhere.

There could be an assumption that terrorists will only ever target ‘prestige’ targets such as London, but little evidence to support that around the globe.

And while not wanting to seem over the top, Portsmouth is the home of the Royal Navy – a force that has played its part in fighting terrorism.

As we reported on Saturday, HMS St Albans is just back from months away tackling Isil among others.

All of which means it’s reassuring to bring you the report we do today from security expert Ian Millen.

He is calling for vigilance, but at the same time is at pains to point out that the city’s defences were adequate.

Mr Millen, who is the boss of a city security firm, says he believes the threat level is high and terrorists often choose ‘softer targets’.

But he goes on to say Portsmouth is no more under threat than anywhere else.

Of course we sincerely hope there are no further horrific terror attacks on British soil or indeed anywhere else.

But that maybe naive.

There’s nothing to suggest Portsmouth would ever be targeted and the last thing we want to do is frighten people.

But at the same time it’s the vigilance that Mr Millen talks of that will keep us all safe.