I just saw a news broadcast about what appears to have been a Islamist terrorist attack in Woolwich. I live less than a mile from the location of the alleged attack, and the news report indicates that a soldier has been killed by two men, who were then shot by armed police.
This is not the first time the Woolwich has been subject to a terrorist attack. A public house only a few metres from where this alleged attack took place was bombed by the IRA in 1974.
My condolences and sympathy go out to the family of the dead man.
This is not the first time the Woolwich has been subject to a terrorist attack. A public house only a few metres from where this alleged attack took place was bombed by the IRA in 1974.
My condolences and sympathy go out to the family of the dead man.
Sad event Bob and so close to your home.
ReplyDeleteI am in Florida at the moment and an incident related to the Boston bombing has taken place just a few miles away this morning!
I don't think you can go anywhere in the world these days where it is completely safe from terrorism.
I'm glad you are safe!
Jim Duncan,
ReplyDeleteI think that the sympathy of most people goes out to the family of the dead man.
We live in a dangerous world ... and the danger can be a lot closer to us than we expect.
I was less than half a mile away from the 1974 Woolwich bombing, a quarter of a mile from the IRA bomb attack on the Army Education Centre in Eltham, and today's incident was less than a mile away.
All we can do is be vigilant ... and lucky.
Enjoy your holiday in the sun!
All the best,
Bob
Oh God.
ReplyDeleteJust seen a report that the lad killed was an Army Cadet.
This is going to escalate. Nationally.
Wg Cdr Luddite,
ReplyDeleteIt was terrible news.
There is no confirmation as to whether the dead person was a soldier or an Army Cadet (I doubt if the witness could tell the difference), but whoever they are, they did not deserve to die in this fashion.
I hope that you are wrong about the situation escalating, but I understand that there was a demonstration by the English Defence League in Woolwich this evening, and that large numbers of Police were deployed to ensure that things did not get out of hand.
All the best,
Bob
This is very upsetting news. I watched Sky News at lunch today in the mess with a number of British Army types who are currently working here in Canada, and we were all gutted. I'm praying it stops here.
ReplyDeleteMichael Peterson,
ReplyDeleteThe nature of the attack - and what happened in its immediate aftermath - has shocked a lot of people. All one can hope is that this is a 'one off' and not part of a larger campaign of terror and murder.
Unfortunately there are hotheads out there who will think that it is right to take some form of retaliation ... and if that is allowed to happen, it will 'justify' the next attack, and so on.
We can but hope ... and in the meantime express our sympathy and support to the dead man's family.
All the best,
Bob
I don't think it was helpful for the BBC to describe the killers as 'of muslim appearance'
ReplyDeleteThe victim was wearing a Help For Heroes tee shirt. A positive response would be to support this charity.
The site http://shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/ seems very busy today..
A backlash is what these people wont - a time for calm and justice to be done
ReplyDeleteSad and terrible news indeed Bob. I was a mile away from the Chelsea Barracks bomb. Do you also remember the other Woolwich incident? The toy gun packed with explosives left on the pavement where the school kids would find it? A family dog found it first and lost a leg. That was a bad time.
ReplyDeleteVigilance, vigilance, vigilance and, as you say, luck.
Nigel Drury,
ReplyDeleteThe comment was not at all helpful ... and was also inaccurate.
I think that your suggestion that everyone could support 'Help for Heroes' as a way of making a positive response to this murderous attack is an excellent one ... and I may well take it upon my blog.
All the best,
Bob
Mosstrooper,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely spot on! Let's hope that the hotheads on both sides don't use this as an excuse to make the situation worse.
All the best,
Bob
Alan Abbey,
ReplyDeleteI certainly do remember the boobytrap bomb left by the IRA. It was definitely designed to kill and/or maim children ... and I seem to remember that it was found by the mother or aunt of one of the boys at Woolwich Ploytechnic Boys School.
Keep your eyes open, your mind alert, and be lucky.
All the best,
Bob