London Explosions....

[grippedchimp]

If you ask me as a London resident, this could have been a lot worse. While 37 deaths is still a tradedy, and coming at the time when the G8 summit was held, not to mention the 2012 Olympics victory, I think London probably has the best security and action when it comes to terrorism. Given the history of the IRA and Mardi Gras bombings several years ago, we're usually well prepared for it, and more often than not catch those responsible. Besides, London's a city that doesn't stop moving. Sure it takes time to shake off something like this, but we usually go about our lives as soon as possible.

I'm fine, since I live a good distance away from Central London. My mum was at work at the time there, but she was totally fine amidst the chaos.

As for fear, terror and panic here? Ha. Don't make me laugh. The only thing we fear in London is credit card debt! They can try that again, only they'll have 10 security personnel on each of their asses.

 

[P4E]

If you ask me as a London resident, this could have been a lot worse. While 37 deaths is still a tradedy, and coming at the time when the G8 summit was held, not to mention the 2012 Olympics victory, I think London probably has the best security and action when it comes to terrorism. Given the history of the IRA and Mardi Gras bombings several years ago, we're usually well prepared for it, and more often than not catch those responsible. Besides, London's a city that doesn't stop moving. Sure it takes time to shake off something like this, but we usually go about our lives as soon as possible.

I'm fine, since I live a good distance away from Central London. My mum was at work at the time there, but she was totally fine amidst the chaos.

As for fear, terror and panic here? Ha. Don't make me laugh. The only thing we fear in London is credit card debt! They can try that again, only they'll have 10 security personnel on each of their asses.

Well said mate...

There were 7 explosions. 6 at stations and on tube trains, and one on the top deck of a double decker bus.

37-40 People have been confirmed killed, with 200+ Injured...

....London will recover from this....The city has strong resolve....we'll get through this....It takes more than a few bombs to break Londoners spirits....

...But damn....2 of the bombs were 5 mins from my work place....

It was bound to happen one day....

X - R.I.P To all those who got killed this morning....RIP Fellow Londoners... - X

 

[Haltickling]

I mourn the killed persons and all those who will die because of their injuries, and my deepest sympathy is with those beloved ones they left behind. To the injured survivors, I wish a recovery as swift and as complete as possible.

 

[Mitchell]

I was saddened to hear of the horrible tradegy that happened in London this morning. My condolences go out to the familes of the victims, and my thoughts and prayers are with the people of London at this time. I felt very relieved to hear that my good friend Grippedchimp and his mom are safe.
This whole incident has me so enraged, I cant put it into words. To me, anyone responsible for any terrorist activities whatsoever shouldnt just be captured and put to death, they should be tortured in public, made to suffer like the vermin they are. Innocent people are going to work on a normal morning, and have their lives taken or maimed due to these slime who have no regard for life! It is just an outrage.
Today, my mind is in two places. Condolence and sadness for the victims, and justice for the criminals. I do hope that somehow whoever did this is brought down, and made to pay for their most barbaric act.

Mitch

 

[Sultrybrunette]

As with everyone else, I am saddened to hear about the bombings. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone over there. As the british people rallied around us during our crisis we now return the favor. And I am angry. Will this ever end? How many more lives will be lost?

 

[Darkknight]

Ahhhhhh God Damn Al Qaeda!!!!!!!!!!!

I know the Brits were there for us when Al Qaeda got us in New York, I will never forget that... ever!

I never hated an organization of thugs more than Al Qaeda, scum of this Earth...

My heart goes out to our friends and allies in London, we feel your loses and in the end, Al Qaeda will feel our pain a thousand fold....

DK

 

[blondie46]

I am so sorry for all of the innocent victims, and sorry for their families, today in Britain...and of course those before, in Iraq, Sudan, USA, Palestine, etc. Selfishness, greed for oil, revenge, imperialism, expansionism, guns & bombs, wicked plotters, money, power, land domination, etc., these words are just empty sounds to people who have lost loved ones. All the senseless killing in the world has nothing to do with democracy, religion or justice. God help us all in our world. We need to learn to get along together.

 

[Krokus]

Even though this was indeed a vile, horrible act of terrorism, I am confident that the british people will rise up and become even stronger...


The british are not a people that retreat, or give into fear.


We weep with you, friends. Hopefully we can put an end to this, together.

 

[kis123]

I know it's tempting right now to fill our heads with images of the people who did this being hanged or blown away by armed police, but I'd like to take a moment add a note of caution.

The actual perpetrators are very likely posessive of little or no mind of their own. They've probably been brainwashed to buggery by the ones who have true and undiluted evil running through their veins: the heads of organisations and the commanders of cells. So while I'm sure we all hope and pray that sons of bitches like this are brought to justice, I'd also like to express a hope that the ones who they dupe into committing these atrocities heal in their fractured minds and turn away from lunatics and terrorists, not least because they do their cause no end of harm. Terrorism and violence never achieved a political end properly or purely, and I hope they realise that and turn away from it, leaving their murdering, idiot masters without dumb servants to do the things they are too cowardly to.

Let's also hope and pray that the various agencies of the Metropolitan Police find and capture the ones who did this, assuming they weren't suicide bombers. They owe a great deal to the people of London and the only way they can pay that off is by laguising in the smallest, dankest and crappest cell we can find. Dumb they may be, but that doesn't relieve them of their responsibility.

There is also no iron-clad, irrefutible proof that AlQueida is responsible. Just because a bomb went off and a letter went out, it doesn't mean they did it. Everything that happens now gets pinned on AlQueida. Too easy for me to instantly accept. It just as easily could've been local or done by some other coward!

Who did it is secondary. The deaths and injuries are in the forefront. My heart goes out to the families, but I hope a real investigation is done before assumptions are assumed into fact.

 

[milagros317]

I went to a minor league baseball game last night, a home game of the Brooklyn Cyclones in Coney Island.

Before the playing of the national anthem, the stadium announcer asked every to stand for a moment of silence, "in memory and honor of those murdered by the terrorists in London this morning." The crowd of 8,000+ complied, standing and remaining silent in tribute.

Just thought this wouldn't make the news anywhere outside of Brooklyn, and wanted to record it in this thread.

 

[BigJim]

Barbaric Bastards

Can civilised countries ever truly defeat Terrorism? I sincerely hope so.

Not unless we use different tactics than we've been using upto date. Terrorism has been around for a few centuries in its present recognisable form, and it's never once been beaten fully.

There are no adequate words to discuss this tragedy.

I was hoping to check in here to find that the Brits in our community were all physically safe. I'm relieved to see that Jim and the Chimp are okay. I hope and pray that all your friends and family are safe too.

Nothing has come up on the UKTF about anyone who knows anyone who's missing. I don't think any of our brothers and sisters have been caught up in the tragedy. Thanks for your words. 🙂

I have 2 very good friends that coulda been killed or injured in all this fucking bullshit. One I heard back from and he's ok (thank god! was his lucky day, he didnt have to work in London today!) and the other..I yet to hear from.

This world has gone to fucking hell, call me a racist (which im normaly far from) if youd like for this next comment, I really dont care cause I speak my mind and how I feel...but someone needs to do away with these fuckin towelheads that are barbaricly killing all these innocent people and that are probably gonna lead us to the end of the world via nuke!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just dont understand this whole country war bullshit! Why cant people just be people and all stick together???? Theres always some country fuckin it all up. These stupid mother fuckers who are doing the terror acts are gettin innocent people of their own killed doin this shit too. Is there any right or any wrong anymore? I dont think so.

If it were up to me, id have a plan set and go and take out the people doing this shit directly...not just hit a whole country and take innocent people that had nothing to do with it. Their leaders may be evil..but it doesnt mean others in the country are...but like I said..theres no right and no wrong anymore..welcome to hell people

I understand how you're feeling mate, I think most of us do. I should though quote one of the things roughly from the website that has claimed responsibility... It went something like "our people can now take comfort from knowing that we are not helpless against the barbarian and that the massacres perpetrated by the British and their allies are now being avenged".

Now NOTHING excuses the brain-dead murdering sons of bitches for doing this and they forfeit every right they can be stripped of them and their freedom for the rest of their miserable lives if MI 5 can catch them, but that quote hurts the more because it's true. There are normal people who could've lead productive lives and become engineers, doctors, teachers or whatever who are now plotting murder and destruction because they feel they've got something against us. And they have, sadly. Nothing excuses what they've done; it was an act of pure darkness, but what happened in London was miniscule compared to what our armed forces have done in the Middle and Near East. Tens of thousands died there, so is it any wonder that there are people willing to turn aside from normal life and change themselves into base murderers and terrorists? They feel they've got the right to do what they've done. I will never agree with murder and violence, I think it's moronic and the basest of evils, but can anyone be surprised that these people are in such a mood that makes them so easilly manipulatable by the scum who recruit for and run these loony organisations?

There is also no iron-clad, irrefutible proof that AlQueida is responsible. Just because a bomb went off and a letter went out, it doesn't mean they did it. Everything that happens now gets pinned on AlQueida. Too easy for me to instantly accept. It just as easily could've been local or done by some other coward!

Who did it is secondary. The deaths and injuries are in the forefront. My heart goes out to the families, but I hope a real investigation is done before assumptions are assumed into fact.

Kis, you speak with ineffable wisdom. I couldn't have put it better in a million years hun. 🙂

I went to a minor league baseball game last night, a home game of the Brooklyn Cyclones in Coney Island.

Before the playing of the national anthem, the stadium announcer asked every to stand for a moment of silence, "in memory and honor of those murdered by the terrorists in London this morning." The crowd of 8,000+ complied, standing and remaining silent in tribute.

Just thought this wouldn't make the news anywhere outside of Brooklyn, and wanted to record it in this thread.

That's wonderful Mils, thanks for sharing it. 🙂

I'm sure right now that we're all thinking and praying for the people who've been affected directly or by association with this awful event. I just want to say thanks for y'all who've chipped in with kind words and feelings. Y'all are our familly, yanno?

 

[Oddjob0226]

I really don't know what to say, except I'm sorry.

 

[TickledToDeath]

To all involved directly and or indirectly......friends and family thereof as well, my deepest condonences, sympathies and heart felt thoughts are with you all in England and to those associated with them on any level.
Be strong.

TTD

 

[MrMacphisto]

Well... Just wanted to say that I'm sorry for what happened to London. Like chimp said, I'm glad the death toll and number of injured people were a lot less than what they could have been.

My theory on why this happened is that Al Quida is trying to do the same thing to the U.K. that they successfully did to Spain. They are targeting countries within the "coalition of the willing" with the intent of forcing them out of the alliance. Sadly, this was remarkably effective against Spain, but they were also on the verge of leaving anyway.

Of course, the U.K. isn't going to take this sitting down. I like the mayor of London's response to Al Quida: "I know that you personally do not fear to give your own life in exchange to taking others ... but I know you do fear you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society ... in the days that follow, look at our airports, look at our seaports and look at our railway stations ... you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world, will arrive in London to become Londoners, to fulfill their dream and achieve their potential … whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail."

Now that's a man that I want as my city's mayor.

 

[goddess_nemesis]

Originally posted by kis123
There is also no iron-clad, irrefutible proof that AlQueida is responsible. Just because a bomb went off and a letter went out, it doesn't mean they did it. Everything that happens now gets pinned on AlQueida. Too easy for me to instantly accept. It just as easily could've been local or done by some other coward!

Who did it is secondary. The deaths and injuries are in the forefront. My heart goes out to the families, but I hope a real investigation is done before assumptions are assumed into fact.

Yeah, there isn't iron-clad, irrefutible proof it was them, but there is a group linked to AlQueida who are taking the responisiblity of bombing London. They found this posted on an AlQueida website.

And when somebody basically says, Hey I did it. It's hard not to blame them and whoever is associated with them.

 

[JohnnyB]

.but someone needs to do away with these fuckin towelheads that are barbaricly killing all these innocent people and that are probably gonna lead us to the end of the world via nuke!!!!!!!!!!!!

Without proof of who is responsible, idiotic things like this are going to lead to a lot of innocent people being hurt. It's ok to be angry, but racism is what caused this in the first place.

And as ticklingnemesis said:

Yeah, there isn't iron-clad, irrefutible proof it was them, but there is a group linked to AlQueida who are taking the responisiblity of bombing London. They found this posted on an AlQueida website.

Hundreds of terrorist organisations have claimed responsibility for this. It's just that Al Queda are still in our minds from 9/11 that people jump to this conclusion. It's been theorised that it's a small group who are riding off of their infamy.

 

[MrMacphisto]

Well, it appears that JohnnyB was right. This wasn't the work of Al Quida.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4679001.stm

 

[Dr. Vollin]

Without proof of who is responsible, idiotic things like this are going to lead to a lot of innocent people being hurt. It's ok to be angry, but racism is what caused this in the first place.

And as ticklingnemesis said:


Hundreds of terrorist organisations have claimed responsibility for this. It's just that Al Queda are still in our minds from 9/11 that people jump to this conclusion. It's been theorised that it's a small group who are riding off of their infamy.

By this, do you mean to say that racism is the ultimate cause of these bombings?

 

[BigJim]

Yeah, there isn't iron-clad, irrefutible proof it was them, but there is a group linked to AlQueida who are taking the responisiblity of bombing London. They found this posted on an AlQueida website.

And when somebody basically says, Hey I did it. It's hard not to blame them and whoever is associated with them.

If you're a government or an intelligence agency, it's remarkably easy NOT to believe things like that. Following a sucessful terrorist strike every dickhead bunch of headbanger wannabes are going to claim responsibility if they think they can get away with it with their kneecaps intact.

 

[JohnnyB]

By this, do you mean to say that racism is the ultimate cause of these bombings?

Maybe not the only reason, but a major contributor. In fairness, it'll be a while before we find out exactly why these guys did it, but the very act itself is an attack on Britain and it's people, tarring each person with the same brush. They're showing an irrational hatred made from a gross generalisation.

 

[Haltickling]

I wouldn't call it racism but fanaticism, but that's just semantics. Can we agree on racist fanatics?

Anyhow, Al-Qa'eda has developped from a small terrorist organization to a political ideology. Most of the recent terrorism acts were committed by fanatic groups with only very loose ties to Al-Qa'eda. Osama bin Laden has become more of a symbol than the actual "manager of terrorism". He may provide some of the financing through his channels and connections, but anyone can find detailed instructions for how to build a bomb on the internet. That's already the second and third generation of terrorists.

IMO, the real problems are the hatemongers and preachers of terrorism in some (not all) mosques. A certain amount of racism and xenophobia towards muslims in the West paves the way to systematic indoctrination of the youths.

That doesn't excuse the terrorists at all; it's more of an explanation than an excuse, and certainly not a mitigating circumstance!

 

[Dr. Vollin]

Maybe not the only reason, but a major contributor. In fairness, it'll be a while before we find out exactly why these guys did it, but the very act itself is an attack on Britain and it's people, tarring each person with the same brush. They're showing an irrational hatred made from a gross generalisation.

It seems I did it again (not making my post clear enough). What I meant to ask was whether you were ascribing the bombings to Western attitudes toward Muslims, not the reverse.

 

[Dr. Vollin]

I wouldn't call it racism but fanaticism, but that's just semantics. Can we agree on racist fanatics?

Anyhow, Al-Qa'eda has developped from a small terrorist organization to a political ideology. Most of the recent terrorism acts were committed by fanatic groups with only very loose ties to Al-Qa'eda. Osama bin Laden has become more of a symbol than the actual "manager of terrorism". He may provide some of the financing through his channels and connections, but anyone can find detailed instructions for how to build a bomb on the internet. That's already the second and third generation of terrorists.

IMO, the real problems are the hatemongers and preachers of terrorism in some (not all) mosques. A certain amount of racism and xenophobia towards muslims in the West paves the way to systematic indoctrination of the youths.

That doesn't excuse the terrorists at all; it's more of an explanation than an excuse, and certainly not a mitigating circumstance!

Agreed, it's not an excuse or a mitigating circumstance. But I also wonder how sufficient it is as an explanation. Racism and xenophobia have long histories, as we know, and yet they rarely seem to lead to actions like London/Madrid/Bali, etc. I think we can legitimately ask why other groups who have suffered far more from these things haven't resorted to murdering civilians.

 

[drew70]

IMO, the real problems are the hatemongers and preachers of terrorism in some (not all) mosques.

I agree wholeheartedly. Freedom of speech is well and good, but the preaching of hatred to and the deaths of "infidels" should not be tolerated in the London mosques as it currently is

A certain amount of racism and xenophobia towards muslims in the West paves the way to systematic indoctrination of the youths.

This is no doubt true to some small extent, but then it begs the question, how much racism and xenophobia towards muslims existed when a handful of them hijacked planes and flew them into the World Trade Center, killing thousands? They didn't seem to have trouble finding willing indoctrinees when the American people were more benevolent toward muslims. I think given these events, a little suspicion and discomfort is understandable.

 

[Oddjob0226]

Here's a thought I just had.... I'm very slow - culturally, couldn't this have been another Columbine shooting?

See, in that event, you had these young kids who were part of a kind of subculture ... they purposely separated themselves to an extent, but also, in doing so, they were pointing out that alienation by their own peers was not particularly uncommon. That's where their hatred from the 'good Christian' students and the bullying jocks came from..... each clique thinks it's better than the other, and when they do get along it is because they accidentally discover a commonality, and very often a common target in another clique. While one wants to fit in, one also wants to be different and distinct, so being in the mainstream and being in a fringe group can be jarring.

What they did, they did for many reasons, ranging from legitimate protest of teenage social conditions within the school (I didn't say the METHOD was legit, don't go all Gary Busey on me) , to trying to make a name for themselves, to the sheer childish joy of destruction. But somewhere in all of this, these were young guys very sure of their "statement"; they felt that their larger world was against them, even if - but cutting themselves off from the mainstream, they were doing it to themselves to an extent.

So in England, then, you have these young kids. Part of a bigger society, part of a subculture - members of a Pakistani Muslim immigrant community. In addition to THAT subculture, they had apparently become super religious in a short span of time, and in that religion they were imbued with certain viewpoints and ideas. So they were young men, disaffected youths, out to prove a point, out to make a name, out to be cool by causing incredible chaos. While being a part of this alienated subculture, they were not necessarily acting with the blessing of this alienated subculture (like goths wouldn't actually approve of killing other kids in school, outside of taking revenge on the squares FANTASIES) but, but alienating themselves further via extremist teachings, they now felt this burden of anger they had to rail against-even if they had put it their to a great extent themselves. The wanted to bring this holy war to the streets in their myopic subculture idea of fighting injustice, but within those streets, like the Columbine killers, they were also young men wanting 'street cred'. Being in the mainstream and being in a fringe group can be jarring. Politics & religion were a backdrop, an excuse even, but in a way, couldn't this have been the Arab Muslim version of Charles Starkweather's 1950s crime spree, or California's Spur Posse turned violent?

Also, in both the Columbine case and the English bombing case, the parents of the people involved kind of realized they were headed down a darker path, but didn't realize how dark until the worst had happened.