Dubai: The city of London has long been a destination for Emiratis as a home away from home, but in light of recent events — the safety factor has diminished among Emiratis.

Two weeks after the shocking hammer attack against three Emirati sisters, the community has been in shock after an Emirati couple had their home broken into by hammer and knife wielding robbers.

In the last few weeks, Emiratis said they were forced to revaluate their behaviour abroad and to become more cautious when it comes to wearing designer clothes and handbags, as blending in with the crowd has become as urgent a need as ever.

But as the details emerge of the Emirati couple who were attacked on Tuesday in the privacy of their London home, Emiratis say they have taken a step back and are looking at the bigger picture as to whether the UK is a safe holiday destination for the time being.

“I was in London last week and stayed at a hotel near Russel Square, in Bloomsbury. While I was there, I not only locked the door but also pushed the sofa against the door. I was frightened that somebody could enter my room, but now after this last aggressive burglary, I do not want to go to London any time soon,” said Maryam Eisa, a homemaker, who recently visited London with her daughter.

Copycat

IT engineer Abdul Rahman Hussain, who also used to frequently visit London, said he wants the whole incident to die down before he visits the capital again.

“Its surprising that the attack took place in the same way as the last one — with a hammer. People could be encouraged to copycat the attack, and I am afraid that this is exactly what is happening. I do not know whether Emiratis have been targeted on purpose but the odds are still there, and I do not want to take any chance when it comes to the security of my family,” said the father of two.

Amna Sultan, who frequently visits London during the summer, has also rethought about travelling there this year after the recent attacks.

“I’ve never thought about my safety until now and it corners you into a point where you have to think twice about how safe you are. Why will I put myself in a situation where I can get hurt? I’ve visited London for the last five years, and stayed in a hotel room with my older sister. But after all that has happened, we would not feel comfortable staying on our own when anybody can easily break into our rooms,” she said.