When attacks unfold, what makes a person run towards danger?

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 5 min read 100% complete by Emine SinmazDecember 19, 2025 at 06:12 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

The article explores the motivations behind individuals who run towards danger during attacks, using the examples of Darryn Frost in the 2019 London Bridge attack and Ahmed al-Ahmed in the recent Bondi Beach shooting. Frost, a civil servant, used a narwhal tusk to help subdue the London Bridge attacker after witnessing a victim's severe injury. He describes a state of intense focus and narrowed senses during the event, contrasting his conscious actions with the instinctive reactions of others. The article highlights the perplexing nature of this "have-a-go hero" phenomenon, noting that running towards danger is not a natural impulse. A neuroscientist suggests a "fight or flight" response may be at play.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

London Bridge ×380% Bondi Beach ×280% Darryn Frost ×4100% Usman Khan ×2100% Saskia Jones ×2100%

Keywords

running towards danger 90% london bridge attack 80% fight or flight 70% bystander intervention 60% tunnel vision 60% instinct 50% intense focus 50% heroism 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Positive

Score: 0.20

Source Transparency

Source

The Guardian - World News

Political Lean

Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

Classification Confidence

90%

Geographic Perspective

London Bridge

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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running towards danger london bridge attack fight or flight bystander intervention tunnel vision instinct intense focus heroism

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