BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug

Subject: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 07:21 AM

News is filtering through of a (possible) terrorist attack at Westminster this morning: BBC News
Whitehall tube station closed.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 07:50 AM

Early days Nigel, I been watching the news and have seen a brief bit of footage of the incident. I somehow thought that if it was a terrorist attack they might have been driving a bit faster. Just a thought, I wonder if it could have been drink or drug driving.

Time alone will tell.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 07:58 AM

News suggests they were doing 50mph when they hit the barrier.
That's fast for London traffic.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Raedwulf
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 08:15 AM

There's an overheard camera shot, rather unclear, but it looks like the driver took sudden evasive action, came off of one road, across pavement / grass & then rammed the barrier. I can't be sure, because the picture quality isn't good, but it looks like he might have been being followed by a police van. It may be that the sudden evasion was because of that, rather than any act of terrorism.

There'll be more details in a few hours; not much point in speculating now!

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 08:33 AM

There's a tube station called Whitehall?

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 08:49 AM

Westminster.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 08:52 AM

Was the attacker wearing a burka?
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 08:55 AM

Nah. He punched a letterbox in the guts and broke his wrist.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Raggytash
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 08:57 AM

I've looked at the footage again Nigel, prior to the driving swerving to the right he had been driving quite slowly, the passing police van seems to have spooked him and if he was doing 50 mph when he hit the barrier he had only been doing it for a few yards.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Raedwulf
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 09:07 AM

I think there's two vans, Raggy. One goes past him, the other follows him after he swerves & accelerates. But yes, we agree that at the moment it looks more likely not a terrorist attack - the latest version of the BBC story says BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said sources told him the suspect is from the Birmingham area and was not known to MI5 or the counter terrorism network, but was known to police (my bolding). He is also said to "not be co-operating with counter-terrorism police".

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Senoufou
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 09:22 AM

The thing is, people in big cities, especially London and especially this particular location, are on 'alert' at all times since the risk of terrorism is 'severe'.

It must be frightening to have this happen nearby and wonder if a bomb is going to explode at any minute.

It makes me think of poor old Trump recently when someone shouted, "Allahu akbar!" and he nearly weed himself with fright.

My personal guess (can't really tell as not enough info yet) is that this chap is merely a miscreant known to the Police and under the influence of drink/drugs. But seeing the pics of Police officers standing about holding those automatic rifle things is very sad.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 09:53 AM

Sadly, this is what the terrorists want. Speculation and scare-mongering plays into their hands.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Mr Red
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 01:39 PM

The police have come to the conclusion that given the speed, the injuries to a cyclist and the location. They are treating it as if it were a terrorist event. Terrorist police and all that.
The man was not previously known to the terrorist authorities.

If it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck and quacks, best to approach with a duck in mind**





** other fowl deeds are available.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 02:41 PM

How many more times must this happen
before cyclists can be legally armed with light automatic firearms...!!!???

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Senoufou
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 02:52 PM

He was driving a silver Ford Fiesta just like ours. He was a black chap aged 29 from Birmingham apparently.
He didn't achieve much did he? (thank goodness!)

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 14 Aug 18 - 03:48 PM

Are you sure that it was not somebody fed up with cyclists flagrantly breaking highway code rules???????

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: David Carter (UK)
Date: 15 Aug 18 - 02:19 AM

I think PFR, along with Chris Boardman and the lycra brigade, would like any incident in which a cyclist is mildly inconvenienced treated as terrorist attack.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 15 Aug 18 - 02:39 AM

Don't lump me in with middle class lycra lifestylers - my cycling culture is 1950s factory hands
pedaling to work in the mornings...

Steel toe cap boots, baggy trousers, and a sensible coat or jacket.
Headware is an optional wooly hat or balaclava...
Army surplus back pack for sandwiches and flask, chain & padlock, puncture kit, and pump.
.. and cycle clips to prevent trouser legs getting caught in the chain...


..I'm really not joking...

My only concession to the later 20th century was a gortex waterproof hooded jacket...

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 15 Aug 18 - 03:57 AM

The cyclists were easy targets, I think the footpaths are cordoned off to prevent a repeat of previous bridge attacks or many pedestrians would have been hit.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: Senoufou
Date: 15 Aug 18 - 04:01 AM

Those two policemen who leapt out of his way were lucky not to have been injured or killed.

Subject: RE: BS: Terrorist? attack in London 14 Aug
From: MikeL2
Date: 15 Aug 18 - 10:37 AM

hi

I think that it is right to treat incidents like this are treated seriously until they are certain that it's not terrorist related.

Mike