What happened during the London terror attack on 3/22/17?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the London terror attack that occurred on March 22, 2017, focusing on the details of the incident, the motivations behind the attack, and the nature of the perpetrator. Participants explore various theories regarding the attack's political implications, the identity of the attacker, and the broader context of similar incidents.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Initial reports indicate multiple fatalities and injuries, with numbers varying among participants.
  • Some participants suggest the attack may have been a suicide attack, while others question the political motivations behind it.
  • A viewpoint is presented that the attacker may not have been a "genuine terrorist" due to the choice of weapon (a knife) rather than something more lethal.
  • Others argue that the deliberate crashing into Parliament suggests a political motive, raising questions about the attacker's potential ties to extremist ideologies.
  • There is speculation about the attacker's mental state, with some leaning towards the idea of a "crazed loony" rather than a politically motivated terrorist.
  • Reports from authorities indicate that the attacker may have been inspired by international terrorism, but details remain unclear.
  • Participants discuss the prevalence of knife attacks in terrorist incidents, noting that they may be less deadly but are still a common method used by attackers.
  • Some suggest that the choice of weapon may be influenced by stricter gun laws in Europe, leading to a preference for knives.
  • There is mention of similar trends in other regions, such as Israel, where spontaneous and opportunistic attacks occur frequently.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views regarding the motivations and identity of the attacker, with no consensus reached. Some lean towards the idea of a politically motivated attack, while others suggest mental instability as a possible explanation. The discussion remains unresolved with competing theories and interpretations.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the early stage of the investigation, emphasizing the need for caution in drawing conclusions about the attacker's motives and background. There are also references to the evolving nature of casualty reports and the complexities surrounding the classification of the attack.

  • #31
Yeah. there is 'ABH', actual bodily harm, which is anything from punching to shooting someone.
Probably poisoning is in that category as well
 
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  • #32
Today, a similar attack is deflected in Antwerp:

"He was looking to kill people and to cause something dramatic," Hollande said in a statement.
Belgian public broadcaster RTBF reported the individual detained in Antwerp was too inebriated with alcohol to initially answer questions from police, had drugs in his possession and was believed to be possibly linked to drug trafficking.
Earlier this month, a suspected Islamist extremist who was shot dead by police after taking a female soldier hostage at Orly airport was under the influence of alcohol, cannabis and cocaine, according to toxicological tests cited by French prosecutors.
The incident comes one day after an attack in London -- which started with a driver plowing into people with a vehicle -- killed three people...
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/23/europe/belgium-antwerp-car-intercepted/

"Copycat" phenomenon, I'd say.
 
  • #33
zoobyshoe said:
Today, a similar attack is deflected in Antwerp:
http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/23/europe/belgium-antwerp-car-intercepted/
"Copycat" phenomenon, I'd say.
Agree, that is common schizo type behavior, so it does not even need to have a rational explanation. it doesn't.
Sadly somebody I got on well with once is still getting phone calls from David Bowie
 
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  • #34
I live in London and whilst this is a tragedy for the people who lost their lives and their families the overwhelming mood is one of calm. This isn't like the July 7 bombings, it's not inspiring fear like a coordinated attack. People are just getting on with their day perfectly fine and it barely gets a mention. In this situation I feel it's the best response. One nutter, trying to do his best to hurt people and strike fear and it's largely just brushed off.
 
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  • #35
Ryan_m_b said:
One nutter...
I agree with all above except this.There's no evidence I've seen that indicates the attacker was crazy. A loon operates almost by definition in isolation. Loons don't have a group like ISIS claim responsibility for the attack (true or false). The public may not respond differently, but politically or religious driven attackers require a different response from law enforcement. And law enforcement has reacted differently. For instance, it threw Anjem Choudary in prison for supporting ISIS.
 
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  • #36
zoobyshoe said:
If this is what it sounds like, why wasn't he in jail?

He was. He served his sentence and was released.
 
  • #37
Vanadium 50 said:
He was. He served his sentence and was released.
Right. He was in jail twice, in fact. That info eventually came out.
 
  • #38
Thread closed for moderation
 
  • #39
Thread should have been locked when that forum was closed.
 

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