New London alert...

Posted by: JonR on 21 July 2005

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1533368,00.html
Posted on: 21 July 2005 by DIL
BBC - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4703777.stm

/dl
Posted on: 21 July 2005 by Not For Me
My trip to London this evening has been cancelled because of this. I hope everyone is OK and there isn't as much chaos as last fortnight - I was there then.

DS
Posted on: 21 July 2005 by Nime
We should give a thought to the police force, security services and medical workers for their incredible bravery. After they clear the public safely out of the area these remarkable people have to stay behind and get on with their work. Not knowing if there is another bomb nearby or the awful carnage they may have to face.
Posted on: 22 July 2005 by Chumpy
Indeed - also innocent people affected by the 40-200 'paradise suicide' bombers in Iraq and elsewhere in past year or two,
Posted on: 22 July 2005 by kevj
Nime

I wholeheartedly second your comments
Posted on: 22 July 2005 by Nime
quote:
Originally posted by kevj:
Nime

I wholeheartedly second your comments


Shame I forgot to mention those other heroes: The fire brigade. Even the bus and tube drivers are expected to carry on as usual.

I'm also for instant fixed prison sentence for anyone who leaves a bag or parcel unattended in a public place. It is unforgivable in these difficult times. Yet it happens all the time even at the height of security alerts! Lock the culprits up without appeal as examples to the other morons! It might make the thoughtless concentrate on what they are doing!
Posted on: 22 July 2005 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Nime:

Lock the culprits up without appeal as examples to the other morons! It might make the thoughtless concentrate on what they are doing!


Nime

Are you suggesting that a little tyranny would help with the terrorist problem?
Posted on: 22 July 2005 by Nime
No. I'm suggesting that jailing morons who leave packages and bags would concentrate their inadequate minds wonderfully. Immediately after the London bombing the danish news was full of bomb alerts being triggered by damned air-heads! The stress to personnel and their families must be enormous in handling these false alarms. Not to mention the station or train being cleared and the disruption to normal services. Let's make the air-heads pay the full price for the enormous wastage of resources they cause through their thoughtlessness!

Nime
Posted on: 23 July 2005 by Mick P
Chaps

Let me say that this is a much more positive thread than the bunch of malingering pinko waffle currently going on over on PFM.

Regards

Mick
Posted on: 23 July 2005 by JonR
Mick,

The problem with the PFM thread is there is too much of an argument over something about which we don't yet know the full facts.

Cheers,

Jon
Posted on: 23 July 2005 by Mick P
Jon

You are spot on with that comment. It is sad to see intelligent men cackling like a bunch of old women.

Regards

Mick
Posted on: 23 July 2005 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Nime:
No. I'm suggesting that jailing morons who leave packages and bags would concentrate their inadequate minds wonderfully. Immediately after the London bombing the danish news was full of bomb alerts being triggered by damned air-heads! The stress to personnel and their families must be enormous in handling these false alarms. Not to mention the station or train being cleared and the disruption to normal services. Let's make the air-heads pay the full price for the enormous wastage of resources they cause through their thoughtlessness!

Nime


Why treat terrorists differently than any other type of criminal?
Posted on: 23 July 2005 by Nime
quote:
Originally posted by Deane F:

Why treat terrorists differently than any other type of criminal?


I was referring to foolish members of the public leaving items unattended in public places. What are you referring to? Confused
Posted on: 23 July 2005 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by Nime:
quote:
Originally posted by Deane F:

Why treat terrorists differently than any other type of criminal?


I was referring to foolish members of the public leaving items unattended in public places. What are you referring to? Confused


Yes you're quite right. A failure of comprehension on my part.
Posted on: 23 July 2005 by Deane F
I think it's a valid question though, to ask why terrorism ought to be treated differently from other forms of crime?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/23/acpo_seeks_new_terror_powers/

Whenever there is a matter of widespread concern and media attention in New Zealand - such as the boy racer/modded cars phenomena - the police here ask for more powers. I've certainly never heard them say that they are concerned about the erosion of civil liberties.
Posted on: 23 July 2005 by long-time-dead
Linked to the thread but somewhat at a tangent......

I have just returned from two weeks in Las Vegas. At the start of the holiday we heard the news abou the first bombing and every American offered to "share our grief". The local hotel-hotel monorail was then staffed by two police officers per carraige - presumably against a similar attack.

Where is this going ?

In response to Dean's question :

I think it's a valid question though, to ask why terrorism ought to be treated differently from other forms of crime?

I also noted the following couple of facts at the same time.

1. Two deaths within 24 hours as a result of separate incidents involving handguns.
2. A news report on the local TV highlighting the problem of the 300 missing teenagers in Nevada EACH month.

I really think that the Politicians and Police forces can often take their eye off the ball at times.

Terrorism is cowardly and nasty but it is not the only crime that can rock communities to the core.

300 kids EACH month missing in one State - that's a terrifying thought.
Posted on: 23 July 2005 by Deane F
quote:
Originally posted by long-time-dead:

300 kids EACH month missing in one State - that's a terrifying thought.


Bloody hell! Eek
Posted on: 23 July 2005 by Robmark
I totally agree with the comments about people leaving parcels behind. In these times, it is more than thoughtless. But prison? Community service perhaps? Stay with the fire brigade to help clean up, or go and visit the sick and injured in hospital ...

On a more sobering note, looking at L-T-Ds post, we should perhaps be mindful of the fact that around 30,000 people are killed in the USA each year, with handguns. That's nearly 600 a week, or around 80/day. That's 3.5 people shot per hour. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but - otherwise .... does that excuse anything .. no, but it is something we could do something about, without spending huge amounts in resources and manpower.
Posted on: 24 July 2005 by Lomo
I did not post at the time but my reaction was that I would not like to be running late for a train in London with a carrybag on my shoulder.
Then we hear that the person gunned down by police was not in anyway connected with the bombings.
It is a worry as to where we are all heading. In our various governments ongoing efforts to contain terrorism we are all going to have to give up many of the freedoms we have taken for granted.
I hope the right balance may be struck or many of the liberties that our fathers and their fathers fought to preserve will gradually disappear.
Posted on: 24 July 2005 by Nime
quote:
Originally posted by Robmark:
I totally agree with the comments about people leaving parcels behind. In these times, it is more than thoughtless. But prison? Community service perhaps? Stay with the fire brigade to help clean up, or go and visit the sick and injured in hospital ...


It was the same during the IRA bombing campaign in England. Thoughtless fools were leaving potential bombs behind. Each had to be checked and sometimes the item had to be blown up.
The punishment should match the enormous waste of resources and dislocation of everyday life. Each false alarm means a reduction in public attention to such matters. The public are the eyes and ears for the police in difficult times. You can be punished for wasting police time in ordinary life, can't you? Why not in times of terrorist activity? Throw away the bløødy key! Or hold them under the special powers! Dip them in boiling oil? You want the public programmed to be highly suspicious of everything. Not thinking it's just another left luggage item! Then BOOM!
Posted on: 27 July 2005 by andy c
HI,
Just read this thread as have been pre-occupied on the PFM one - nime - don't forget those who ring in with hoax calls re bombs too. They are a massive drain on stretched resources too.

However nice to see that despite the shooting there are people on this thread who also value the important work of the emergency services, and the thankless task they have in situ's like this.

andy c!
Posted on: 27 July 2005 by MichaelC
I trawled through the thread on Pink Fish - polarised opinions and balanced comments from andy c nad others.

A nightmare call for the police officer(s) in question. A tradegy yes. An enquiry to sort out what really happened, yes. Lessons can be learned and in the meantime let the police get on with the task in hand. And they seem to be having some tremendous success.

Mike
Posted on: 29 July 2005 by andy c
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4727975.stm

it would appear that the police have struck again...