Experts in VIP Protection Sound Alarm Over Scene Examination of Former Prime Minister Abe and Prime Minister Kishida

So, how was the response after the incident occurred?

“Bodyguards perform an action called ‘Cover’ where they immediately intervene between the threat and the protected person when an attack occurs. Following this, they focus entirely on evacuating the protected person. While police officers direct their attention towards apprehending criminals during criminal activities, in close protection and VIP protection, the focus of bodyguards is on protecting and evacuating the protected person.

In the world of bodyguards, it’s said that there are only two actions to take in emergencies: ‘Cover & Evacuate’. ‘Cover’ involves intervening immediately to insert oneself between the threat and the protected person, preventing direct contact between danger and the protected person.

However, covering alone does not eliminate the threat, and there may be multiple threats or the possibility of further attacks, making it very dangerous to keep the protected person at the scene. Therefore, it’s crucial to evacuate them from the scene as quickly as possible. This is what ‘Evacuate’ entails. ‘Cover & Evacuate’ is the golden rule for bodyguards when emergencies occur.

Bodyguards are thoroughly trained to cover and evacuate immediately in emergencies, emphasizing the importance of preparing for evacuations like this. In the incident involving former Prime Minister Abe, his vehicle was stationed a bit away from the scene, and road closures were implemented quickly, preventing Abe’s vehicle from approaching the scene and causing delays in evacuation. This appears to be due to a lack of understanding of boundaries (the concept of where protection should extend) and a failure to plan for covering and evacuating in emergencies. The primary issue in this incident seems to be inadequate training and education for the security personnel responsible for close protection and VIP protection.”