Londoners check in? (Westminster)

Saw the news. Props to the plainclothes guy who got the bastard.

All our London members OK?

 

Didn't see the news until a few hours after.

Not a good day.

 

I'm checking in. I wasn't in Central London today, but if it had been yesterday - well, there but for the grace of God is all I can say.

 

I am not in London, but I am glad to hear that you are all alright. Has anyone heard from Reader or Angel?

 

I got an email from Reader last night about reviews, so she's OK.

It's really strange how the media are going berserk over it, but everyone I know is like "Terrorist Attack? Ok, put the tea on and get ready for work tomorrow. Hope the trains aren't fragged."

 

Checking in, checking in.

I would have been here sooner, but I had forgotten my password.

 

Hi @Angel! Is that everyone from London checked in and OK?

 

It is good to hear from you both.

 

All in from London? Good.

Getting sick of hearing that we don't know why he did it. He read up on toxic ideas that said it was a good idea to kill innocents and acted on 'em. That's why.

 

And London is pretty much back to normal other than a few more bollards being added around Buck. Palace. Even the extra police who were kicking around the stations have probably gone back to their desks.

Despite all the claims it looks like one lone nutter.

 

While I'm not from London, I WAS in London on the day it happened, and know of the chaos it caused. Going back to the IRA point, I'm from Manchester so know only too well about the devastation that a bomb can cause as I was also in town on the day the IRA bombed Manchester (perhaps I should avoid going out the house come to think of it!), and unfortunately I can only see this happening more frequently and it's just something we have to get used to.

Many people including myself weren't surprised a terrorist attack happened, but we was surprised that it hasn't happened sooner because I think we have been expecting it for some time. The police and the authorities do a wonderful job of protecting us, but they can only do so much, and I'm not sure that much can be done to stop somebody who uses a car and a kitchen knife like this attacker did.

 

That's the whole point, we only see the times when something does happen and there are probably plenty of times when the police have broken something up and nobody notices - we are lucky to be allowed to get on with our lives given that the UK, especially London, has been on high alert for ages.

There is always the issue around how much power they should have and treading that fine line between guardians and police state and in general they do a good job of it.

 

But that's the thing about London isn't it? The terrorists want us to be scared of bombs, but they overlook just how many bombs are already in the area.

When I worked in London I was shunted from my office after they found a World War Two bomb in the basement, and they find them pretty often during developments. If one of the WWII incendiaries went off, there'd be a lot more casualties than a backpack bomb. Anyone who works in London already knows they are taking that risk, so one more bomb is just not that scary.

 

Not just that - but London has a history of being bombed anyway. It's nasty every time it happens and we mourn those who have been lost. Then we just pick ourselves up and keep going.