Reports of at least one person shot and a possible incident on Westminster Bridge.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 14:59 (seven years ago) link
yeah following this. bit too close for comfort altogether - my office is about five mins away.
― Bein' Sean Bean (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:01 (seven years ago) link
Car hit pedestrians on the bridge, I've heard
― stet, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:02 (seven years ago) link
Sky reporting 12 wounded on W'minster Bridge.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:02 (seven years ago) link
Quentin Letts says he saw police shoot a man who attacked officers with a knife.
Radek Sikorski says five people were hit with a car on the bridge.
idk how reliable any of that is. I can hear sirens from my office but not all that many.
― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:02 (seven years ago) link
The car mowing people down on Westminster Bridge seems to be true, could have been someone just freaking out and fleeing, who even knows.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:04 (seven years ago) link
Shiv Malik on Twitter sharing the info that order of incident is car on bridge hits pedestrians > driver runs to Parliament Square > altercation with police > shot.
― syzygy stardust (suzy), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:13 (seven years ago) link
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/gunfire-reported-outside-uk-parliament-in-london/
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-39355940
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:22 (seven years ago) link
Reports that the policeman and several pedestrians are dead
― an uptempo Pop/Hip Hop mentality (imago), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:39 (seven years ago) link
Holyrood refusing to suspend business; bad move imo
― stet, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:41 (seven years ago) link
jesus xp
Not hearing those reports tbh.'Middle-aged Asian guy' was the assailant, according to witnesses.
― Ongar Is An Energy (Tom D.), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:44 (seven years ago) link
I heard someone saying on R4 they stopped giving medical attention to at least one person on the bridge, who was definitely a fatality.
― calzino, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 15:58 (seven years ago) link
Not entirely clear if it's a lone attacker or if he has accomplices. Reports are understandably confused.
― Dan Worsley, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 16:04 (seven years ago) link
distant ambient sound in hackney is now all sirens at various distances going in various directions
(hackney being a fair way away, for non-londoners)
― mark s, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 16:05 (seven years ago) link
Seems calm enough on the Strand though traffic is going nowhere. Lots of helicopters though.
― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 16:07 (seven years ago) link
Sirens in Holborn but quieter now.
― syzygy stardust (suzy), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 16:12 (seven years ago) link
yes it's quietened down again
london eye isn't something i'd enjoy much at the best of times -- really glad i'm not one of those stuck on it now (it's been turned off for the duration, those halfway round remaining where they are until whenever)
― mark s, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 16:13 (seven years ago) link
One woman dead. Being reported.
― Ongar Is An Energy (Tom D.), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 16:14 (seven years ago) link
can't escape the feeling some mps are looking for their 2 mins of fame with their desperate for gravitas tweets.
xpost i'm beside st james's park tube and i heard nothing but sirens when i was in the bathroom earlier. can't hear anything from my incredibly noisy office tho.
― Bein' Sean Bean (LocalGarda), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 16:17 (seven years ago) link
phone video on Twitter showing crashed vacated 4x4 and gunshotshttps://twitter.com/claudiascore/status/844561131876204544
― nashwan, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 16:27 (seven years ago) link
All passengers being let off the Eye now at least.
― nashwan, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 16:56 (seven years ago) link
just got a txt from my sister -- who works at tate britain -- to say she is safe but was travelling (by scooter ftb she is a mod)* thru westminster square abt 20 mins after it started :(
*fake news: she is not a mod, she does travel by scooter tho
― mark s, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 16:58 (seven years ago) link
Traffic towards Chelsea Embankment at a total standstill
― an uptempo Pop/Hip Hop mentality (imago), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 17:00 (seven years ago) link
"..when I looked over the side of the bridge there appeared to be a body in the water.." says one witness. Good grief, it sounds like some poor bugger might have jumped to avoid the car.
― calzino, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 17:05 (seven years ago) link
They pulled someone out of the Thames alive, it's thought they were on the bridge when the car went through.
― Matt DC, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 17:07 (seven years ago) link
French students among the injured on the bridge
― stet, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 17:22 (seven years ago) link
anniversary of last year's Brussels airport attack :/
the idea of vehicle as weapon of attack is really terrifying to me
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 17:31 (seven years ago) link
Quentin Letts continuing his superb hardman shtick on PM now
― it's hardy out there for a Vardy (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 17:33 (seven years ago) link
Ugh.
― Ongar Is An Energy (Tom D.), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 17:35 (seven years ago) link
rly hope someone punches Tommy Robinson in the head this evening
― lex pretend, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 17:36 (seven years ago) link
Four dead, now.
― Le Bateau Ivre, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 18:04 (seven years ago) link
Including the attacker.
― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 18:08 (seven years ago) link
Using vehicles as a weapon of attack has been commonplace for decades. The target has generally been just one person and the attack motivated by anger. Much less spectacular than using an airliner as a weapon, but several orders of magnitude easier to arrange. It widens the scope of potential terror attacks enormously, so the only limiting factor becomes the supply of willing, radicalized perpetrators. No further obstacles to overcome, such as learning to build bombs, obtaining a gun and learning to shoot properly, or learning to fly an airbus. It's a turnkey operation now.
― a little too mature to be cute (Aimless), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 18:29 (seven years ago) link
With that has tended to come fewer actual victims per attack - possibly indicating they'd rather have 10 attacks killing ten (average) than try to plot a single attack to kill a hundred (but excuse this morbid rumination).
Heard from a friend who's in one of the locked down buildings - no idea how long they'll be kept in.
― nashwan, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 18:39 (seven years ago) link
I'd rather engage in this sort of rumination than give in to purely emotional reaction. Understanding the extent of a threat and calculating its reach and likelihood are necessary steps to a reasonable response. And by definition, the object of a terror attack is to provoke an unreasoning terror, so cool, detached thinking is the most potent enemy of terror.
― a little too mature to be cute (Aimless), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 18:48 (seven years ago) link
dead suspect:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/westminster-terror-suspect-revealed-who-abu-izzadeen-1613176
didn't realize it was first anniv of Brussels attacks
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:19 (seven years ago) link
I'd be amazed if it was him, it'd be the first time one of those celebrity jihadists had done anything more hazardous than renewing their Housing Benefit claims.
― Ongar Is An Energy (Tom D.), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:26 (seven years ago) link
i was about to say.
It doesn't look that much like the photos of the attacker.
― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:28 (seven years ago) link
UK friend said he heard Channel 4 ID him... awful lot of outlets are wrong if it's not him
― Supercreditor (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:30 (seven years ago) link
twitter reporting his solicitor says can't be him as he's in jail (all caveats re what twitter says obviously)
(hackney lad if it was him)
― mark s, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:30 (seven years ago) link
awful lot of outlets are wrong if it's not…
sadly not an unusual circumstance -- probably better to wait for police confirmation
― mark s, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:32 (seven years ago) link
looked like him from the one pictures I just saw of someone on a stretcher, but difficult to ascertain, certainly
― akm, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:39 (seven years ago) link
So not a middle aged Asian man after all?
― Ongar Is An Energy (Tom D.), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:41 (seven years ago) link
It's impossible to tell his race from the pictures and I doubt eye witnesses would be that much better.
― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:43 (seven years ago) link
asian covers a lot of territory
― a little too mature to be cute (Aimless), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:47 (seven years ago) link
Not Jamaica normally tho
― jay kay huysmans (NickB), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:51 (seven years ago) link
bbc news home affairs corresp dominic casciani tweeting that multiple sources confirm it's not izzadeen aka brooks: he's still in prison: https://twitter.com/BBCDomC/status/844634204461813760
^^^this is still not a police confirmation obviously
― mark s, Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:52 (seven years ago) link
I inappropriately have Nadia Oh singing "so crazy his skin tone / may be Jamaican / maybe Asian / fucking amazing" in my head now.
The guy in the pictures could be from any number of places and looks a lot smaller than Brooks.
― Wag1 Shree Rajneesh (ShariVari), Wednesday, 22 March 2017 19:55 (seven years ago) link
mps inevitably chipping in one by one yesterday to have their pulling-together remarks broadcast some defiant in the face of terror some confirming that theresa may mp speaks for all of us all paying tribute to pc keith palmer and to tobias ellwood mp and then philip davies mp stands up and does the same stuff and mps around the house murmur in agreement giving this absolute scumbag the same veneer of respectability and righteousness that they're all shooting for he should be persona non grata and ignored by any decent mp if they don't want their own remarks to be diminished by association
― conrad, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:03 (seven years ago) link
a lot of the 'getting on with it' is look at all these people who don't want to lose their jobs going to work as if nothing had happened
― conrad, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:04 (seven years ago) link
Most people 'getting on with it' in a way that might look vaguely stoical to outsiders because they just don't care very much.
truth bomb
well that and literally the lack of any alternative. "boss i'm not coming in today. i have a particularly acute case of 'the terrorism'" "oh yeah? get in here before i set ATOS on you"
xposts yes
― illegal economic migration (Tracer Hand), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:05 (seven years ago) link
what does "getting on with it" even mean? do we really expect people to start offing themselves or something, or rioting in the streets? most people would prob be fired or disciplined if they didn't turn up for work, most people prob need the money, most people have little or no wiggle-room to do anything other than "get on with it".
I have been reading people's criticism of this attitude with an increasing sense of exasperation. I think the criticism is harsh, midirected, callous even. I know that saying this doesn't "do any good". I think you insult the intelligence of those who have this attitude to suggest that *they* think that it does. But there is a human need to say something positive in the face of helplessness - we can't defeat spontaneous acts of terrorism by deranged people whose hatred of society and crazed ideology has been bubbling under the surface for years, yet we feel the need to react positively *somehow*. And the "getting on with it" means not being scared, doing what one always does rather than being cowed, i.e. not doing what my Mum did during the time when the IRA were active in the eighties and staying away from the West End "coz of the bombs".
― Grandpont Genie, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:06 (seven years ago) link
thinking this is just london might be the flipside of the same trend.
Lol, I'm checkmated, well played
― why labour 'foot problems' since 2015? (Bananaman Begins), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:07 (seven years ago) link
don't even think this is callous. it was a horrible attack but as far as worrying about my personal safety goes i'm more in danger of being hit by a car accidentally. if the endpoint of this is banning cars from cities then be my guest.
xpost sorry wasn't trying to zing you or anything
― Bein' Sean Bean (LocalGarda), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:09 (seven years ago) link
Ha ha, no worries, you're right
― why labour 'foot problems' since 2015? (Bananaman Begins), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:09 (seven years ago) link
I'm gonna do this in ALL CAPS so nobody misses it, so:
THE ANTI-BREXIT MARCH IS STILL HAPPENING.
11am start at Park Lane, a few tweaks to the route in light of events. That's all.
― syzygy stardust (suzy), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:11 (seven years ago) link
The IRA comparison GG mentions is useful one. I feel roughly the same about this as I used to when the Ra set off a bomb in the city, or at a train station. Sad, but not really fearful in any way, and basically a kind of mental shrug.
― why labour 'foot problems' since 2015? (Bananaman Begins), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:12 (seven years ago) link
what does "getting on with it" even mean?
it's prob the same in any city where this happens i'd say
― stet, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:14 (seven years ago) link
re: Tobias Ellwood, I did some first aid yesterday, good to know I'm a hero
― it's hardy out there for a Vardy (Noodle Vague), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:14 (seven years ago) link
This is it really. I had this conversation with a Spanish woman I work with, who is sort of hippy dippy, where I said I was more likely to be hit by a bus. And not one driven by a jihadist either.
― Bill Teeters (Tom D.), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:15 (seven years ago) link
... she's going on the March tomorrow!
― Bill Teeters (Tom D.), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:16 (seven years ago) link
and this "London Can Take It" bullshit is regressive bullshit to the extent that it tangles with nationalist shtick, for the same reason that the geniuses behind the Prevent strategy should be strung up for making the central agenda "British Values". I know your British Values are based on multiculturalism and cuddles because you are all lovely reasonable ilxors but out in the rest of the world that phrase is dog-whistle bullshit
― it's hardy out there for a Vardy (Noodle Vague), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:17 (seven years ago) link
Civic pride is one of my pet hates. It was unbearable enough when I lived in Glasgow. Where is that irrationally angry thread?
― Bill Teeters (Tom D.), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:19 (seven years ago) link
I wonder if all these blitz spirit lovers realise that the Mass Observation dudes were all basically communists
― it's hardy out there for a Vardy (Noodle Vague), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:24 (seven years ago) link
I think opposition to civic pride is a difficult thing to communicate though, which goes some way to explain its prevalence...if you say you dislike civic pride then people will conclude that you hate your city rather than that you have no reason feel that your city should be considered superior to any other.
― Grandpont Genie, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:25 (seven years ago) link
Ha I was thinking of Glasgow too. It's the same kind of annoyance for me as with people who take irrational pride in their families and all their little ways. Yes, yes, your family is the only one loyal to a fault who won't let anyone insult anyone in the clan. Yes, your family will beat any other family up. Yes your family loves its Grandad. Xp
― stet, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:26 (seven years ago) link
I'm pretty indulgent of civic pride in non-London UK cities, because of wanting to see some kind of counterweight, however slight, to intense centralization on the capital. Very un-indulgent when it comes to London, obviously.
― why labour 'foot problems' since 2015? (Bananaman Begins), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:27 (seven years ago) link
on prevent:
Alan Johnson (Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle) (Lab)The Prime Minister is dealing with this outrage in a calm and assured way. Does she agree that an effective counter-terrorism strategy designed to prepare, protect and pursue would be inadequate without the strand of prevent? In that vein, will she assure the House that across all 43 constabularies there will be neighbourhood policing teams visible to, and contactable by, the public, which is a crucial strand in feeding information on terrorism to the counter-terrorism organisations?
The Prime Minister is dealing with this outrage in a calm and assured way. Does she agree that an effective counter-terrorism strategy designed to prepare, protect and pursue would be inadequate without the strand of prevent? In that vein, will she assure the House that across all 43 constabularies there will be neighbourhood policing teams visible to, and contactable by, the public, which is a crucial strand in feeding information on terrorism to the counter-terrorism organisations?
― conrad, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:28 (seven years ago) link
I'm not gonna quote the actual email but I've had at least one this week assuring me that there will be a heightened police presence in our region this week, so well done Alan
― it's hardy out there for a Vardy (Noodle Vague), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:31 (seven years ago) link
nothing says "don't panic" quite like busies crawling over the place
― it's hardy out there for a Vardy (Noodle Vague), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:33 (seven years ago) link
lol Alan Johnson got cucked by a plod
― why labour 'foot problems' since 2015? (Bananaman Begins), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:35 (seven years ago) link
neighbourhood policing teams visible to, and contactable by, your wife lol
congrats to the police on being able, unlike the doctors and teachers, to actually afford to do their job properly oh wait
― nashwan, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:36 (seven years ago) link
I agree with Bananaman!(Except maybe 'and God created Manchester' stuff which takes it further than London does)
― the pinefox, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:38 (seven years ago) link
I remember being reluctantly mildly freaked out the first commute I did after 7/7, but four simultaneous co-ordinated public transport bombings are different to a seemingly failed and inept attack on the government.
― hot bech babes lick the feemer and get the skeletor fever. (stevie), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:38 (seven years ago) link
If you know THIS WEEK with Andrew Neil you will know his sarcastic very lengthy monologues (which maybe are slightly comic via being so lengthy?) Last night he started with a very lengthy diatribe defending PC Keith Palmer and aimed at 'Jihadi Johns' and loudly declaring 'You will never defeat the British'.
It was possibly hard to disagree with any specific item of what he said but I did not feel totally comfortable with the overall impassioned aggression - coming as it did from Andrew Neil.
― the pinefox, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:40 (seven years ago) link
By 'defending PC Keith Palmer' I meant 'eulogizing' him.
(I don't demur from the admiration / appreciation expressed for this police officer who was killed while defending others.)
― the pinefox, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:41 (seven years ago) link
tbf andrew neil has a long history of fostering positive relations with people of asian extraction
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT7wAK3nJVyJAFBMM2ICW7ILtuApxW6zHWR6URzjbmGuew5DgWq
― physicist and christian lambert dolphin (bizarro gazzara), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:42 (seven years ago) link
conrad: Alan Johnson was also back on THIS WEEK talking about those things
― the pinefox, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:42 (seven years ago) link
Neil did that after Paris too iirc - can't watch him just hope he's not too upset about the 60 Tories who wrote to complain about BBC's anti-Brexit bias which he's somehow failed to prevent
― nashwan, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:44 (seven years ago) link
I often watch some of SUNDAY POLITICS also and it will feature a panel with eg:
Andrew Neilthe political editor of THE SUNa biographer of David Cameron+ a Blair supporter
The 'bias' is plain enough but what is even more egregious (?) I find is seeing the SUN person comment on Brexit issues as though he is an honest broker and detached observer rather than a key representative of one of the main (and continuing) drivers of what has happened.
― the pinefox, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:46 (seven years ago) link
I got pissed off with Hopkins for making people hate people from Devon.
Haha imagine how I feel.
― Tim, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:48 (seven years ago) link
"let's all pull together as we rend the country limb from limb" - that sums up the current message nicely
I heard someone use the expression "into the jaws of death" to describe the prospects of further Tory austerity on LA budgets into the next 4 years. Sadly I don't think any type of "not letting the Tory twats grind you down" type memes will be as prevalent as this current nauseating shit. I suppose it isn't a shock that the majority of people are very susceptible to any type of false modesty nationalistic bollox and will lap that shit up every time it is cynically doled out.
― calzino, Friday, 24 March 2017 11:55 (seven years ago) link
tbf she may be from devon but katie hopkins is not people
― hot bech babes lick the feemer and get the skeletor fever. (stevie), Friday, 24 March 2017 11:56 (seven years ago) link
If you know THIS WEEK with Andrew Neil you will know his sarcastic very lengthy monologues (which maybe are slightly comic via being so lengthy?)
... where he STARTS OFF TALKING IN A VERY LOUD BOMBASTIC VOICE then gets progressively softer and softer until he's so quiet you've almost got your nose pressed up against the screen trying to hear what he's saying? Anyway, fuck that Unionist cunt, though of course I am filled with civic pride that he hails from my home town, sorry, hame toon.
― Bill Teeters (Tom D.), Friday, 24 March 2017 12:00 (seven years ago) link
Yes Tom D. It is a very strange programme -- one where Neil seems able to get away with anything because of the idea that it's too late for anyone to be watching -- so he turns it into a weird comic performance that seems unique on current TV.
― the pinefox, Friday, 24 March 2017 12:10 (seven years ago) link
(Although I think he is obnoxious and largely perhaps bad for politics I do sometimes think his scripts are, in their way, quite well done, simply in terms of following his peculiar ironic / self-deprecatory tone.)
― the pinefox, Friday, 24 March 2017 12:11 (seven years ago) link
there is an unappealing noisiness to any sort of civic or national consciousness, the way the media stokes collective anxieties and emotions through a cycle of panic, vulnerability, sentimentality, and then loud protestations of how unaffected everyone is, declaring everything back to normal but now the normality is inscribed by the trauma everyone, at least in the in-group, has felt. I find all the in-group loyalty business very unedifying, when it involves strangers I can't see it as anything other than exclusionary & it betrays a lack of imagination about the rest of the world
otoh southerners chatting shit about anywhere in the north is always unseemly & cannot be tolerated
― ogmor, Friday, 24 March 2017 12:16 (seven years ago) link
just saw a couple of coppers hanging around Queen's Gardens and felt a warm glow of safety but when I got closer I realised they were traffic wardens so I went back to being frightened and hateful
― it's hardy out there for a Vardy (Noodle Vague), Friday, 24 March 2017 13:01 (seven years ago) link
You'll find no terrorists idling their engines, pre-killing spree, without getting a parking ticket for their troubles
― めんどくさかった (Matt #2), Friday, 24 March 2017 13:36 (seven years ago) link
just saw a couple of coppers hassling a homeless guy in the west end of glasgow - good work lads, that jakey was probably radicalised by isis years ago
― physicist and christian lambert dolphin (bizarro gazzara), Friday, 24 March 2017 13:50 (seven years ago) link
fallen officer was a Charlton fan so our webforum is currently a shrine to him (fair enough) and people are discussing how to pay tribute to him at our next match (fair enough), such as displaying his face on the big screen throughout the game (hmm) or renaming our east stand after him (now wait a second)
where will it end, i ask you???
― an uptempo Pop/Hip Hop mentality (imago), Friday, 24 March 2017 19:38 (seven years ago) link
a 21 gun salute with a geordie male police choir singing Candle In The Wind should suffice. Sorry I know something tragic has happened, but I can't stand the way they present these things at football matches. I don't go to football to be an extra in Triumph Of The Will.
― calzino, Friday, 24 March 2017 20:40 (seven years ago) link
Triumph of the 'Wall
― millwallreptile (Noodle Vague), Friday, 24 March 2017 20:41 (seven years ago) link
lol! *only just gets the new dn*
― calzino, Friday, 24 March 2017 21:14 (seven years ago) link
NOODLE VAGUE
― an uptempo Pop/Hip Hop mentality (imago), Friday, 24 March 2017 21:59 (seven years ago) link
Lost of tabloid front pages and editorials are going for a "coward" angle including the sun and star calling him a snivelling coward which seems like a weird and inappropriate word to use. What's cowardly here?
― Heavy Doors (jed_), Saturday, 25 March 2017 16:16 (seven years ago) link
The vehicular homicides were cowardly, but then charging at armed police with only a knife would earn you a posthumous medal if you were to do it as an armed forces combatant.
― calzino, Saturday, 25 March 2017 16:29 (seven years ago) link