h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6255960.stm

I'm grateful to London's guardian angels that these devices never exploded

I'm astonished at the gorgeous cars being used as death-wrappings, two Mercedes? Are they stolen to order so they'd blend in with the posh cars in the West End?

To the emergency services and the brave people who work for the bomb disposal squad, I salute you.

Hmmm.

I live in London, and I'm deeply sceptical about this particular incident.

The police have described it as a "a viable explosive device". This sounds too much like a football commentator saying "that was a perfectly good goal". *

They've then gone on to explain all about the possible explosive materials, whilst remaining curiously silent on how all this was going to be detonated.

RF

* "Perfectly good goals" do not appear on the scoresheet, only in the minds of football commentators.

I agree, RF. In the morning it was reported as a 'massive bomb' on LBC radio. Then the 'viable' thing came in. It made me wonder too.

Our son made the comment that he is not so worried about going to Beirut this summer after all.

Further, the bomb disposal team carried out a "controlled explosion". I'm confused about whether this was (a) in situ, (b) before or after they'd removed all the "perfectly viable explosives", or (c) after they'd removed the car to a safe location?

Not much of a "viable explosive device", if you ask me.

RF

So they took the photos before this controlled explosion?

Odd security set-up, in that case.

Oh, by the way, LBC is now describing the bombs as 'incidents'...

I thought they were checking the cars for prints, DNA etc? Or do you mean they exploded the stuff that would've exploded

I find it all very puzzling.

I read that there was apparently a mobile phone in the car, which "an officer" disconnected: this seems like a good idea, so long as the act of disconnecting the thing isn't actually the trigger for the car to go "boom".

Whatever (as they say), whether this is a plot or a real threat, or a whole heap of manipulated spin, at least nobody got hurt.

Yes, the thing of using a Merc made me wonder also. Maybe they make a better class of bang?

zdt

First of all a controlled explosion doesn't mean a 'big bang'. Its a method of 'disrupting' the fuse/trigger of the device. This can be done electronically as well as 'mechanically'. They certainly wouldn't have used anything that created a spark in light of the petrol fumes that filled the car.

The press conference on news 24 given by the met states it was a bomb disposal officer that disconnected the device, not your ordinary bobby on the beat. As for using the type of vehicle, well, who knows? Not enough detail released as to whether they were stolen, bought or whatever.

As for being a 'viable device' then empty gas cylinders with valves open and petrol fumes, nails as shrapnel, I wouldn't like to be nearby if it went up to be honest.

Blimey we're a bit cynical on this thread aren't we? Mind you my initial reaction was odd: A car bomb, I thought, how old-fashioned.

I think the bomb makers see mercedes as a part of western decadence and moral decline....!?

It depends a lot on who set the bomb really.

I know when the provos were at it they used to buy a car from the small ads - for very little money and then park it legitimately.

I've seen a fair few controlled explosions, and while they do go bang the whole point is that don't detonate the *actual* bomb. That way they have probably saved quite an amount of forensic evidence.

A mobile phone is a very viable device to detonate a bomb, so I think it was very sharp work from whoever spotted it.

"I know when the provos were at it they used to buy a car from the small ads - for very little money and then park it legitimately."

Quite a good idea when you bear in mind that one of yesterday's car bombs got towed and, had it gone off, would probably have succeeded in destroying only several other towed cars.

Well do the naysayers have anything to add tonight.

Nay

Apart from nay.

neigh

Everyone's a tonight.

Traveller in Time confused
"I thought that was the check out terminal of the airport, definitely remember searching for a from there.

I am sure I heard them about the check in terminal on BBC World news. "

It was the 'Haymarket' Fizzy, what else would you expect?

That would have had to be Catford,

and would have been the Isle of Dogs.

Stands to reason, Dunnit?

MMF

Well, having watched all the news reports now on the attack at Glasgow airport last night I think it's now time to stop the waffle and start getting tough.

We need to seal our borders, all non legal immigrants, failed asylum seekers and anyone who is here that don't adapt to our laws, culture,and way of life should be re-patriated.Mosques and churches that are being used as cover to preach hatred of the west need closing down and the so called 'leaders' need deporting back to country of origin.

There can be no more hiding under the Human Rights Act, the main part of that act is everyones right to life, free from fear of persecution and terror.People flee to this country in theory to escape terror yet they go on to commit heinous crimes including terroism.(No, I'm not saying all do either)

I daresay this will be classed by some as a 'right wing nationalist rant", well, everyone is entitled to their opinion but I will lay odds on that more indigenous british people are thinking this now than those against.

Does anyone else find it strange that people like Liberty, with that Shami shakrabati in charge, are deafeningly quiet when outrages like this occur? They don't come out publicly and condem these acts do they? Whats the betting that when someone is arrested for these outrages they then appear screaming human rights laws at the government and police?

I doubt very much this is the legacy Blair wanted to leave but there can be no doubt that his actions on foreign policy have left us open to attack mainly due to the Iraq debacle. Not a good legacy for any Ex.PM is it?

Just my worth.