Self-defence classes see surge in applications in wake of London terror attack

‘With bombings or shootings, people tend to think that there’s nothing much they could do. But with the style of attack that we saw at London Bridge, there is a sense, rightly, that there is’

One school said it had seen inquiries increase by 10 times following last Saturday’s assault on London Bridge and Borough Market (Rex)

Self-defence classes have reportedly seen a surge in applications after Britain was hit with three terrorist attacks in three months.

Many people have expressed interest in the classes to learn how to protect themselves in the event of another attack, according to The Times.

One school said it had seen inquiries increase by 10 times following last Saturday’s assault on London Bridge and Borough Market that killed eight people and left dozens more injured.

Another instructor said its waiting lists were “backing up” as it struggled to find staff to teach the classes.

Combat Academy UK’s chief instructor Reece Coker told The Times: “With bombings or shootings, people tend to think that there’s nothing much they could do.

“But with the style of attack that we saw at London Bridge, killers roaming the streets with knives, there is a sense, rightly, that there is.”

The company said application inquiries had jumped by 70 per cent since March, when terrorist Khalid Masood launched a deadly vehicle and knife rampage on Westminster.

Government advice in the event of a terror attack is to “run, hide, tell” and does not encourage members of the public to fight back.

However former SAS soldier John Geddes told the Daily Mirror members of the public should team up and try to overpower the attacker together.

It comes as bouncers and restaurant staff were credited with saving lives after many attempted to thwart the three terrorist attackers during their attack in London last Saturday by throwing glasses and barrels at the assailants.