Explosions in London

[Steve the Pocket]

<!--QuoteBegin-Zaaphod+Jul 7 2005, 07:55 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Zaaphod @ Jul 7 2005, 07:55 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> When I heard about this, my first thought was the IRA, but it seems more likely it was al-Qaeda or a similar group.<br><br>For those whose friends or family were casualties, you have my sympathies. <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... ns/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> My cousin actually had a close call. She said she was "across the square" from one of the buses that exploded. (What exactly does that mean, BTW? I'm not as familiar with Brit-speak as I would like to be.) Two of the students she was chaperoning had gone missing for a while, but they turned up unharmed, thank God.<br><br>And what is the IRA?

[GhostWay]

The IRA is the Irish Republican Army. There are actually four seperate IRAs: the Provisional IRA, which split from the Official IRA in 1969, along with two breakaways from the PIRA, the 'Real' IRA and the Continuity IRA. Generally, though, "IRA" is usually meant to refer to the paramilitary Provisional IRA. They tend to use guerilla attacks (such as bombings) to protest against Britain's occupation of northern Ireland and are generally labeled as a terrorist organization.

[Ozymandias]

The IRA's era ended long ago. Seriously. They're just in it for the money now. My uncles run separate businesses in the same warehouse, and they have to pay protection. What happens is, The Boys (usually a pair of heavies) come round on the first day, and suggest an accountant. Then it's written off as travel expenses or whatever. Just depends whose Boys they are depending on whether it's an IRA or UVF area. They're all as bad as each other.<br><br> And it's not a bad idea to watch what taxis you get on the Falls Rd. There are green or orange stickers on the windows; another racket. Some of the kerbs are painted too: red, white and blue, or green, white and orange.<br><br>Across the Square just means that she was on the other side of the road, maybe a bit further. Still a close call by anyone's standards.<br><br>EDIT:<br>Just remembered, a good example of them being more organised crime than terrorists now is <a href='http://definecynical.mancubus.net/forum ... topic=1477' target='_blank'>here</a>

[Rooster]

OK, I am officially freaked out now!<br><br>From BBC news.<br><!--QuoteBegin--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> </td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> In a press conference police said they had identified four suspects who travelled to London on the morning of the attacks - three of them from West Yorkshire. <br><br>One of the men from West Yorkshire had been reported missing by his family and his property was found at the bus blast scene. <br><br>Meanwhile police in Leeds are looking for explosives and have already seized some material. <br><br>An unoccupied house in the Burley area of Leeds was one of six raided in Leeds after the attacks. <br><br>Up to 600 people have been evacuated from the area<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br><br>The "house" they raided is 6 streets away from where I bloody live! Good thing I'm staying with my parents for the summer or I'd have been evacuated. Sweet Enola Gay!

[Bocaj Claw]

<!--QuoteBegin-Rooster+Jul 12 2005, 01:49 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Rooster @ Jul 12 2005, 01:49 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Sweet Enola Gay! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> I apologize for the tangent but: Enola Gay? Wasn't that the plane that dropped the first nuclear bomb on Japan?

[VisibilityMissing]

<!--QuoteBegin-Bocaj Claw+Jul 12 2005, 01:36 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Bocaj Claw @ Jul 12 2005, 01:36 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> I apologize for the tangent but: Enola Gay? Wasn't that the plane that dropped the first nuclear bomb on Japan? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br> <a href='http://www.theenolagay.com/' target='_blank'>Yup . . .</a> which is somewhat fitting since we're talking a about a coordinated bombing here.

[Zaaphod]

I saw this just recently and I liked it very much. I think it's quite appropriate.<br>

[Rooster]

<!--QuoteBegin-Bocaj Claw+Jul 12 2005, 06:36 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Bocaj Claw @ Jul 12 2005, 06:36 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> <!--QuoteBegin-Rooster+Jul 12 2005, 01:49 PM--> <table border='0' align='center' width='95%' ><tr><td class='quotetop'><b>Quote:</b> (Rooster @ Jul 12 2005, 01:49 PM)</td></tr><tr><td class='quotebody'> Sweet Enola Gay! <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>I apologize for the tangent but: Enola Gay? Wasn't that the plane that dropped the first nuclear bomb on Japan?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table> <!--QuoteEEnd--><br>It's from The Simpson's episode with the airshow. It's the catchphrase of General Haffablat, the base commander.

[Arloest]

I think the reason they had picked 7/7 to attack was purely because a lot of London's security was up in Scotland, due to the G8. So, with the lack of full police force, it was a good oppurtunity for them to strike. >.<

[Rooster]

More attacks today. Luckily only one person was injured.

[Richard K Niner]

I don't seem to recall anybody cheering "encore, encore", though...<br><br>At least the death toll is lower.

[Rooster]

It's none today. Police aren't treating the event as major and so far it appears it was copycat bombers with little experience or training.<br><br>The police think they were nailbombs.

[Ozymandias]

I heard that it was only the detonators that went off, on 3 trains and one bus - top deck again. <br><br>Personal accounts indicated a "Pop like champagne corks" followed by "acrid black smoke". When this happened on one train, the bomber dropped his rucksack on the train and pegged it. A lot of the passengers got off and chased him.<br><br>Unfortunately, everyone got away, but fortunately, nobody died; just one injury, as Rooster says