Confused reports coming in from Westminster. Apparently a guy ran a car into people right outside Parliament hurting several of them, then rammed it into railings. He then apparently jumped out, tried to get into the building and stabbed a cop, whereupon he was shot- Police officer 'stabbed at UK Parliament' - BBC News UPDATE: Police say they're treating it as a terrorist incident until proven otherwise.
Will need at least 24 hours before the smoke clears enough. Apparently they're reporting there were 2 attackers, but apart from a headline stating so, I've read no article indicating there was a 2nd attacker. Does look like at least 4 dead at this stage, including a Cop was knifed by the 'asian' man. The 'Asian' man looks more Arabic than Asian to me in the low-res photo I have seen, but too early to jump to conclusions. I am assuming the dead-cop was not carrying a gun like they do here in the states?
Yeah, it will take at least 24 hours for the smoke to lift. Also, I have only seen reports of one attacker, but have not seen any about 2. AFAIK, the "Asian" comes from some eyewitness descriptions, although eyewitnesses have been known to be wrong before. Agree that the possible suspect does not look very asian. Four dead including police officer and attacker following London terror attack I would think that the policeman was not carrying...As you would think the assailant would have afterwards grabbed, and used, the gun.
You don't have to let the smoke to clear to know that normal citizens and bobbies on the beat are not usually armed. He had to threaten Parliament with imminent danger before they took action. No citizen vigilantes to worry about in merry ole England.
That is a sword that cuts both ways...The Philippines is currently a prime example of worrying about citizen vigilantes.
yeah and "learned" people compare our beloved El Presidente Trump (if you're in the US) to Rodrigo Duterte. Life is ironic, as well as, moronic sometimes. There's always Nigeria.
A passing point about 'Asian'. I believe it's used differently over here. In the US usually refers to Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc.? Here more conventionally a reference to those of Indian, Pakistani, 'subcontinental' etc. origin. More broadly, often: light brown people. (And no, I'm not up for some sort of racial definition game - just thinking there might be a transatlantic translation issue there.)
Whatever the motivation first thoughts go to all those involved, their families and friends. BBC reporting as a terror attack, will I hope bring all those blind and foolish people who have recently being celebrating the life of a recently, none too soon, deceased Irish terrorist back to the reality of what these people do to peoples' lives.
I've heard the term "asian" used in that capacity from UK sources. My though is it seems to be used in the continental sense in the UK, and in the racial sense here in the US.
Gordan can correct me, but I think in the UK Indians (and by virtue Pakinstanis) are referred to as Asian.
The US has a lot of "asians" in Minnesota, namely the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. "Asian" Islamic terrorist breeding ground. Big Brother is big on them, so they say.
It is a sad day for the victims and we wish for a speedy recovery for those in hospital. We can be thankful to have got away lightly compared with 7/7 (or 9/11 which killed quite a lot of Londoners). The security services must be doing something right if the best that terrorist can do is suicide road rage. There is a comparison between this solo suicide attack and the IRA attacks on London authorised by Martin McGuniness including Downing Street mortar attack - Wikipedia Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions (1990–99) - Wikipedia Two points #1 The IRA DIY Mortar attack on Downing Street was a sophisticated operation. The IRA had a thing about making their own artillery, and smuggling it into mainland Britain, even though they could have probably bought a military mortar or rocket launcher. The IRA waged a sustained, long term campaign against Britain of a much greater scale than anything mounted by Al Queda or IS. #2 However outraged we all felt by IRA terrorism, there was a political solution to the conflict. Somewhere, and at some point in time there will be a political resolution to the current conflict.
I do not think we could fault the UK security services on something like this, a car as a primary weapon striking pedestrians is almost impossible to stop everywhere. No doubt barriers may be installed in the future at that spot or others, but you can't simply put them everywhere. The bobbie killed was unarmed, but that was the custom and the suspect was quickly subdued by armed police as I understand that a disproportionate number of such are deployed in the area for obvious reasons. Unfortunately I am forced to disagree with Sheldrake on a eventual political solution. The IRA wanted a political solution from the start, a nation of their own that they would then treat with all other nations equally and by the standards normal civilized behavior up to and most especially Great Britain. Certainly the had their loose cannons who did despicable things, but they tried to keep it political. There is no discreet parcel of land we could give them to rule as they please. In their minds a Caliphate encompasses all of Islam, where ever it may be found. As Syria-Iraq indicates, they can rule only by force and no 'leadership' in any Muslim country is willing to yield power to them, let alone the populace as a whole. Even if it were so, there are so many factions within the movement that they would be in a state of perpetual civil war over who was the more devout when of course the real reason was to determine who was at the top of the food chain. I do not see a sunny day where a group of people hover over table and sign a treaty of peace, rather that over time the movement will peter out for a lack of dupes willing to commit suicide for some mythical homeland they never had in the first place.
One Australian was injured in the attack...I must say that I am impressed how the Poms are dealing with this...I see them as strong after this, far from weak.
As Adam pointed out, people of Indian and Pakistani origin are usually called Asians over here. Chinese, Japanese etc are still occasionally referred to as "orientals". Or at least they are in my neck of the woods.