A leading insurance broker has declared that companies are more likely to suffer a terrorist attack based on what they represent rather than their location.
Aon has declared that companies would be more likely to face terrorist attacks because of what they represent as opposed to their location.
The broker cited the recent bomb attack on the HSBC building in Istanbul, as a result of it being a British bank in a Muslim country. The Chicago-based broker said the bank represents the Western capitalist system.
Aon counter-terrorism and political risk team director Martin Stone commented: "For the first time, what a company represents as a target counts for as much as where and how the company is doing business...No one is ever completely secure."
Stone told the Financial Times that some companies had started "anonymising" their buildings by removing corporate logos and neon signs. However this only applied to a minority.
Aon said foreign investors would need to be aware of the risks involved when investing in emerging markets. Stone warned: "While the attractions of investing in these highly profitable markets are clear, mistakes can be costly."
