June 4 2017 - 10:05AM

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London terror attacks: Keep calm and carry on replaced by Run, Hide, Tell

Michael Evans
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Nearly a decade ago, London's response to a terror attack was a resolute: Keep calm and carry on.

But after a spate of recent attacks, including the deaths of children and families at a concert in Manchester last month, the first sign of a crack in the determined British demeanour was contained in a social media post from the Metropolitan Police service, sent to its nearly 900,000 followers: "RUN, HIDE, TELL."

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It captures the fear, terror and panic now threatening to overwhelm the UK as a series of incidents suggest it is facing an ongoing threat of terror attacks.

Instructions contained in the social media post appear to suggest a greater sense of urgency:

"RUN - to a place of safety. This is a better option than to surrender or negotiate. IF there's nowhere to go, then ... HIDE - Turn your phone to silent and turn off vibrate. Barricade yourself in if you can. TELL - the police by calling 999 when it is safe to do so."

The post had been retweeted nearly 50,000 times within hours of the latest attack.

Locals have been encouraged to sign up to the service for latest updates.

The UK has suffered at least five significant terror attacks in the last decade, including two in just a few weeks.

The terror alert was updated to critical from severe after the Manchester attacks at a concert given by American singer Ariana Grande.

The country goes to the polls in a general election on Thursday.

Authorities in the UK reportedly first handed out the Run, Hide, Tell cards in 2014 after terror attacks in Mumbai as a general warning of how people should react in the event of a terror attack.

They attracted criticism from the Guardian newspaper at the time which asked in an editorial "whatever happened to that once celebrated British stiff upper lip?"

"The police mean well – and their advice is certainly not stupid. But they underestimate the public. If there is one thing the British like about their self-image it is the ability to stay cool. "

It added: "Goodness knows what a latterday Churchill would say."

The publication of the message on social media over the weekend saw the message take on a life of its own.