UK Parliment Attack - All our members safe?

[joeactor]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/22/world/europe/uk-westminster-parliament-shooting.html

Just checking in to see if our UK members are all ok...

[Dave]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/22/world/europe/uk-westminster-parliament-shooting.html

Just checking in to see if our UK members are all ok...

So far looks like a one man attack, but at least three dead. Suspicion is that it is terrorist attack but no confirmation so far.

This sort of attack is the most difficult, requires little planning or prep. It's almost the epitome of "terrorism" - almost anywhere, anytime. Provokes even more division between cultures which, of course, is just what these bastards thrive on.

[Ecurb Noselrub]

So sorry.  This is so wrong.

[Dave]

So sorry.  This is so wrong.

Yeah, in the "normal" ettiquette of international violence national leaders etc are "fair game", expected targets, therefore normally well protected. There was a bunch of police officers involved in the hit and run on Westminster Bridge - whether or not these were "targets of opportunity" or planned targets is yet to be determined. But police are, to some violent people, always legitimate targets.

It is the death and injury caused to the innocent passers-by that is the real wrong here. But, to the deeply radical jihadist any non-Muslim is a "legitimate target".

[Tank]

4 dead. 1 police officer, 2 bystanders run over by the attacker and the attacker. Some more may still die.

[No one]

I'm all for not giving these maggots the swift death they desire, but instead, "interrogating" for an extremely lengthy period, until they beg for mercy, which of course, will not be granted. 

[Arturo]

I like how they noted at the end that even though this was terrible, attacks on the west have moved to softer and softer targets, which is a sign of desperation. I know I've heard that one before. But is it an accurate assessment? Or is it a message to keep the population under control?

[Tom62]

[Dave]

We now know that, apart from the Brits, those killed and injured came from ten other countries. It has becone, in effect, an international incident.

Amongst the killed was an American, on a trip with his wife to celebrate their 25th wedfing anniversary. Sounds like a good guy, recently achieved his personal dream - he set up a recording studio. His wife is in hospital.

There was an incident in Antwerp where a Frenchman of North African ethnicity drove at high speed through a pedestrian precinct. He had a rifle or shotgun and knives in the vehicle. Thankfully no-one seems to have been injured.

They said, on the radio, that Daesh had been suggesting this sort of attack. What is the answer to it? It is impossible to line every road with a  heavily pedestrian traffic with barriers of some kind, to heavily bollard every square or pedestrian only town centre.

This will only fuel the right wing elements that are gaining ground in many Western countries. That will delight Daesh, justifying their rhetoric and propaganda.  But it will also making Western countries less pleasant places in which to live.

(Editted for correction)

[Icarus]

 ^ It will also make members of a certain religion suspect and ultimately destroy the peaceful accord that we used to enjoy.

[Arturo]

Stay safe everyone

[Dave]

^ It will also make members of a certain religion suspect and ultimately destroy the peaceful accord that we used to enjoy.

That has the potential to be a big problem. Proportionately Gloucester possibly has one of the largest Muslim communities in the UK. There was one "shoe bomber" who lived in Gloucester  but on the whole there is very little cultural or racial tension in the city. At one time many older Muslim men could be seen in groups, on sunny days, sitting on the city centre benches discussing whatever - peacefully. Now this is a rare sight, there are no obvious signs of fear or suspicion but the Muslims seem to be keeping a somewhat lower profile.

I have said that it is difficult when a non-Muslim cannot easily tell the difference between a Hadji and a jihadi, both may have their hair and beard trimmed very short and carry a rucksack. That is slightly flippant but, how does one distinguish between, say, the student and the bomber on the bus or train? Both may look a little tense, especially soon after a terrorist attack.

Whereas these people have no compunction about putting hundreds of innocents in danger. Non-Muslims need to die and Muslims killed by them, even as "colaterals", are martyrs. Of course Muslims killed by non-Muslims are also martys but need to be avenged. Aldo, of course, to the mostly Sunni terrorist groups non-Sunni Muslims are apostates and thus non-Muslims.