THE recent Westminster terror attack was a shocking reminder of the threat posed by extremists on the streets of London. Had things turned out differently yesterday, it is possible we could have witnessed a repeat.

A 27-year-old man carrying knives near the Houses of Parliament was arrested by armed police on suspicion of terrorism offences.

Witnesses describe seeing two large knives lying on the ground after the suspect was wrestled to the ground in Parliament Street.

Perhaps there is an innocent explanation to his actions. Perhaps there was something more sinister. But after the attack that killed PC Keith Palmer and three other innocent bystanders last month, we should be relieved we did not have to find out.

Quite rightly, the police and security services do not want us to know too much about the plots they thwart or the suspects they arrest and interrogate; but that does not mean that their work should go unrecognised.

Every day, servicemen and women up and down the country put their lives on the line to keep us safe. For every terrorist that slips through the net, numerous others are contained before they are able to wreak their planned havoc.

When things go wrong, as was the case with PC Palmer, the police and emergency services are rightly praised for the selfless role they play in keeping us safe. Their job doesn’t stop, however, when the television cameras disappear and the spotlight moves elsewhere.

As yesterday’s operation proves, counterterrorist activities take place day in, day out.

When they succeed, they do not make frontpage headlines. But wherever we are in the country, we would be at much greater risk without them.