Explosion heard in London

[Standup]

I don't think the UK has been dealing with these threats more so that people have got use to living with them especially in London. Small things like there haven't been litter bins in stations for years.

Now trying to work out how to get home with no buses, tubes or trains. Only 40 miles to walk. At the moment though we've been advised not to leave the building and we're quite a distance from the centre (W12).

[Ecthy]

I might call PH on phone to ask if he's alright, but then he's probably far away from the hot spots.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by molly bloom

Oh the savage irony.

The official communications from both sides during the Iran-Iraq war would always begin with "Allah the merciful and compassionate" then would cite how many thousands of the other side they had killed followed by the declaration that 3-4 of their own soldiers had been 'martyred'. I wont say it was worth a chuckle while reading them, but it was always ironic especially on the more outlandish reports.

Park Avenue

Could I suggest you leave such uninformed chauvinist speculation where it belongs ?

In the gutter or dustbin.

Chauvinist speculation or not, I doubt that this will do anything but increase Brit resolution to continue fighting against these bastards. I think we may be looking at a death toll of up to 500 with many more wounded.

Strangely enough my first thoughts while watching the Blair news blurb was that it would have been the most inopportune time to say something like,

:churchill voice: 'others have tried and failed to use violence to weaken the British resolve to continue the fight against tyranny. Ooh, sorry Gerhard' : /churchill voice:

EDIT: I wasnt trying to be an a$$hole with the above, it was just something that popped into my head. END EDIT

I think that the timing of the attacks with the G8 summit was a strategic mistake by the terrorist scum. In essense, this may be viewed as an attack on all (psychologically) and may increase unity amongst the group (at least for a while).

[SlowwHand]

"And given that this is still a relatively free society, we don't screen all rush hour passengers before they board busses or trains, so...."

Until now.
USA didn't have people remove shoes for screening either, for one thing.

[DarkCloud]

The only possible good news for people seeking transport here is that the group is probably going 'underground' for a while (at least in London)... too much chance of getting caught if it tries to pull anything. It simply wouldn't be good strategy on their part

That being said, if I were in London, I'd not really be that comfortable about riding public transit right now. even if it's probably going to be relatively safe...

[Makeo]

I'm in reading. Was in london yesterday. Very shocking. Makes me angry.

[DarkCloud]

I think that the timing of the attacks with the G8 summit was a strategic mistake by the terrorist scum. In essense, this may be viewed as an attack on all (psychologically) and may increase unity amongst the group (at least for a while).

I don't know... they'll probably use it as 'evidence' that Bush's plan isn't working and support for America's 'war on terror' will decline.

Though America will likely step up draconian measures. ... for better, or worse.

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by SpencerH
Chauvinist speculation or not, I doubt that this will do anything but increase Brit resolution to continue fighting against these bastards. I think we may be looking at a death toll of up to 500 with many more wounded.

i think that is, fortunately, a gross over-estimation.

[Ecthy]

Yup, London seems to have had more good luck than Madrid, with less people wounded and dead.

[SlowwHand]

Let's stop because of this. That makes a ****load of sense.

[SpencerH]

Originally posted by C0ckney

i think that is, fortunately, a gross over-estimation.

Hopefully so, my estimate is based on 6 trains with 300 people each plus a bus with 40 or so and guessing 80-90% fatality in the bombed cars + other deaths from smoke etc.

[General Ludd]

Good timing for a terrorist attack


It happening right after the olympic bid:

1) causes speculation over whether it was related to the olympics.

2) acts as forwarning of more attacks when the olympics have started.

3) throws a huge downer in the country's celebration.

4) If france had won it, it could still cause speculation over whether it was related to the olympics, and possibly make some people in france wonder if the bombs where ment for them.

And with the G8:

1) causes speculation over whether it was related to the G8.

2) likely to inflate tensions between protesters and those who are against what they are doing as speculation is made, or blame is placed for distracting security, ect..

3) shows that when attention is focused on a high-scale event, attacks can be done elsewhere with relative ease, which ties in with the threat of more attacks during the olympics, exponentially raising the potential panic level.

[dannubis]

edit : never mind

[Richelieu]

Hope all the Polytubbies are safe.

[DarkCloud]

Let's stop because of this. That makes a ****load of sense.

Actually it does... and that's disturbing.
---

1) causes speculation over whether it was related to the G8.

Which is odd as heck, since G8 is designed to give aid to people-0 now they'll be getting even LESS aid from the US and England since $$ must be spent on security first.

I think that the thinking will go like this- who cares about sub-saharan african terrorists- it's the maghreb that we have to worry about... and Sudan of course... as terrorist breeding grounds- all the aid will go there instead of to the other corrupt dictators who have been funnelling funds for decades.

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