Explosion on train at Parsons Green, 15/9/17

[Dolive22]

That's interesting - I suppose it all turns on whether "because they felt like it" can be translated into an "ideological cause". Does it have to be a cause shared by others?

I'd imagine if you asked most people for their definition of terrorism, they would place most weight on (b). The act of placing a bomb onto a train is clearly intended to intimidate to the public at large, irrespective of motive.

The Terrorism Act definition of terrorism is very interesting. It has been observed that it generally includes war, which is why we can use our counter terrorism powers against parties we don't like in the Syrian conflict.

s. 1 (1) (b) doesn't actually have to be met in this case, as subsection 3 provides that something doesn't have to meet (1) (b) if the action involves the use of firearms or explosives, although I suppose there is an argument that if the explosives only deflagrated, and were only capable of deflagration not detonation, they aren't explosives.

 

[theageofthetra]

After all this time still not one description of the suspect. Have they even confirmed if the device had been left behind?

 

[Antman]

After all this time still not one description of the suspect. Have they even confirmed if the device had been left behind?

If the train was crowded at the time it might be difficult to ascertain who put the device there.

 

[TimboM]

Seen several suggestions the intended target was the much busier Earl's Court, however due to the tendency for District Line trains to not keep to timings particularly well, when the timer went off at the time the train was due at Earl's Court it was still 5 mins away at Parsons Green.

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

I have been concerned of the effects of a fire or terrorist incident on stock that is open its' entire length. Was this considered before this design was introduced? Any smoke or blast can easily contaminate the entire train rather than being contained in one carriage.

Conversely the open design also makes it easier to get out of the affected carriage. Would more have been trampled if it had been old D or C stock?

Main thing is that we should be thankful no one has lost their life or suffered life changing physical injuries.

 

[Dstock7080]

The train involved was very close to time Parsons Green.

 

[AlterEgo]

BBC Pidgin is carrying this story (yes - it is real!)

https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/world-41277181

Police don say di explosion wey just happen for one underground train station for London fit be terrorism case.

Dem talk this one as rescue workers don take 18 people gop hospital.

London Fire Brigade don send rescue team of 50 fire fighters and specialist officers go di London underground train station wey explosion just happen for.

Eye witness say e see one person wey wound for face.

Di Police don tell people make dem comot and avoid di area for now.

'Blood full people bodi'

One eye witness, Robyn Frost, wey been wan enter train for di station talk say as she enter di station, she see blood everywhere for ground. She say people dey run up and down di staircase, come dey shout 'comot'.

UK Prime Minister, Theresa May, don tell di people wey di explosion affect, sorry.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Whilst it's true that most recent jihadist terror attacks have been as you describe, the security and anti-terrorism sources that have been quoted, have indicated that what is so far known about the method of assembly of this device, does conform with methods as recommended on jihadist internet sites..

Just like this kid used? - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/03/student-found-guilty-planting-bomb-tube-train/

After all this time still not one description of the suspect. Have they even confirmed if the device had been left behind?

It is more than possible that by now they have an ID on the target - not many people carry massive Lidl bags onto the train and there are only five stations they could have boarded at - but perhaps they don't want to clue them in just yet in case they go to ground, and are hoping to arrest them before releasing the images, to avoid the usual stream of mis-identifications that inevitably follow.

 

[rmt4ever]

BBC Pidgin is carrying this story (yes - it is real!)

https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/world-41277181

What the frigg is that ???

 

[gavin]

Islamic State claims responsibility for the bombing

 

[EM2]

Islamic State claims responsibility for the bombing

They always do, whether actually responsible or not.

 

[Darandio]

Islamic State claims responsibility for the bombing

To be fair, IS would claim responsibility if my cooker went bang.

 

[Darandio]

What the frigg is that ???

It's a BBC language service for West and Central Africa.

A new language service for digital platforms in English-based Pidgin for West and Central Africa has been launched by the BBC World Service.

Pidgin is one of the most widely-spoken languages across the region, even though it is not officially recognised.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-40975399

 

[EM2]

What the frigg is that ???

It's pidgin - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/aug/22/bbc-pidgin-english-language-africa-nigeria

 

[gavin]

Armed police deployed onto trains

 

[Busaholic]

Just like this kid used? - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/05/03/student-found-guilty-planting-bomb-tube-train/



It is more than possible that by now they have an ID on the target - not many people carry massive Lidl bags onto the train and there are only five stations they could have boarded at - but perhaps they don't want to clue them in just yet in case they go to ground, and are hoping to arrest them before releasing the images, to avoid the usual stream of mis-identifications that inevitably follow.

But in the case of Wimbledon they might have transferred from a number of other lines, or even Tramlink. If the train had been a westbound one, the number of permutations for boarding of the train would be so much greater, of course, so some 'luck' there I guess.

 

[Ianno87]

I assume he means the 'builders bucket' containing the device?

Most people are too engrossed on their phones to notice very much, that's not a criticism I'm just as bad.

To be fair, it's pretty common on London Underground to see tradespeople carrying tools/largeish cases etc around at all times of day. It may not have looked suspicious at all.

 

[AndrewE]

Re: Pidgin service

Your licence fee doesn't pay for it, the govt belatedly realised that cutting the World Service's funding to zero was a stupid idea, as it is really a foreign influence operation and, as such, of no interest to the Alf Garnetts of this country who clearly object to funding it.

Hence the recently renewed govt funding from general taxation (after a period of self-defeating cuts, of course) and the reintroduction of some languages - plus some more which will be guaranteed to wind up the Daily Mail or Express readers! If Pidgin is the common language of your desired audience and if you want them to hear your viewpoint then that's the language you need to use.

If you want the rest of the world to get their info only from Trumpnews or such then carry on criticising. I would rather there were more newsmongers around with different viewpoints... the one thing that does worry me though is how USA-focussed the "BBC World Service" seems to be these days. Is it nicknamed "His Master's Voice" yet, I wonder?

 

[AlterEgo]

Islamic State claims responsibility for the bombing

Islamic State probably also claim all the dubious goals scored in the Premier League, but it doesn't mean it was them.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

5 stations prior to Parsons Green where that could have been placed on the train.

Not necessarily. It could have been left inbound.

Before anyone says it would have been noticed at Wimbledon, last year I reported an obviously unattended medium large bag on a train at Wimbledon. Definitely unattended because everyone who had been anywhere near it had got off at the previous 2 or 3 stations. It was also tucked in "behind the feet" ( think how the S7 Stock seating is arranged and you'll know what I mean ).

Anyway, at Wimbledon I reported it to the driver.

His response was "Oh - that's OK, it's been there for over an hour!" and he then walked off to the far end of the train to take it back in service to Edgware Road...

So no, the bag involved today was not necessarily brought on board on the journey affected, although I do strongly agree that it is most likely it was. But until we are told for certain in a Met Police statement that it was, we do need to keep an open mind.

 

[GatwickDepress]

UK threat level has now been increased to criticial

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41288525

The UK terror threat has been increased to its highest level as police continue the hunt for the person behind the Tube bombing in south-west London.

The prime minister said the threat was now critical, meaning an attack is expected imminently, after a device was detonated at Parsons Green station.
Police said some 1,000 armed officers would be seen across the country after military assistance was requested.

 

[Antman]

To be fair, it's pretty common on London Underground to see tradespeople carrying tools/largeish cases etc around at all times of day. It may not have looked suspicious at all.

Absolutely, I'm not at all surprised that nobody seemingly took any notice of it.

 

[johntea]

It’s pretty hard to protect against, just like the van attacks - intelligence helps but you can only monitor / arrest so many people at once sadly

Quite interesting how they haven’t yet released any CCTV images or anything of the suspect(s), surely a Lidl carrier bag would stand out slightly more!

 

[SprinterMan]

Before you read this, please be aware that this is just speculation and likely to be incorrect. This in no way represents the views of my employer, or those of the security agencies and is likely just a coincidence. I say this only because I myself am concerned, and in no way want to cause alarm.

There have been 3 big lineside fires today, all mainlines and all relatively near London. The major one at Harrow that shut the WCML, one between Ipswich and Needham Market that shut the GEML and one at Arlesey that briefly shut the ECML. All 3 of these were warehouse fired reported to involve gas cylinders.

This morning's attempted terrorist attack at Parsons Green seems to have involved a bomb made out of a gas cylinder. I hope to god none of these are connected, but it does seem slightly off that all of these things happened on the same day. I am almost certainly wrong, but I am still frightened.

Adam

 

[jon0844]

Yes, the one tonight just south of Arlesey (although the lines opened at 0008 which was quicker than expected, given the gas bottles and the supposed 24 hours to cool down) did make me wonder what was going on.

I am sure it could be a coincidence, but it does seem a bit too much of one.

 

[Antman]

Parsons Green station is now fully reopened.

 

[Dstock7080]

Parsons Green station is now fully reopened.

Wimbledon service resumed at 22.40, Parsons Green reopened at 00.58 this morning.

 

[Bromley boy]

An 18yo suspect in the Parsons Green bombing has been arrested in Dover...

 

[Bald Rick]

Before you read this, please be aware that this is just speculation and likely to be incorrect. This in no way represents the views of my employer, or those of the security agencies and is likely just a coincidence. I say this only because I myself am concerned, and in no way want to cause alarm.

There have been 3 big lineside fires today, all mainlines and all relatively near London. The major one at Harrow that shut the WCML, one between Ipswich and Needham Market that shut the GEML and one at Arlesey that briefly shut the ECML. All 3 of these were warehouse fired reported to involve gas cylinders.

This morning's attempted terrorist attack at Parsons Green seems to have involved a bomb made out of a gas cylinder. I hope to god none of these are connected, but it does seem slightly off that all of these things happened on the same day. I am almost certainly wrong, but I am still frightened.

Adam

There are lineside fires almost every day. Big enough to cause a temporary line closure, perhaps 1-2 a week.

I think it would be rather unusual if occasionally some of them didn't happen on the same day.

 

[Dolive22]

Before you read this, please be aware that this is just speculation and likely to be incorrect. This in no way represents the views of my employer, or those of the security agencies and is likely just a coincidence. I say this only because I myself am concerned, and in no way want to cause alarm.

There have been 3 big lineside fires today, all mainlines and all relatively near London. The major one at Harrow that shut the WCML, one between Ipswich and Needham Market that shut the GEML and one at Arlesey that briefly shut the ECML. All 3 of these were warehouse fired reported to involve gas cylinders.

This morning's attempted terrorist attack at Parsons Green seems to have involved a bomb made out of a gas cylinder. I hope to god none of these are connected, but it does seem slightly off that all of these things happened on the same day. I am almost certainly wrong, but I am still frightened.

Adam

It now seems to be clear that the device didn't involve a gas cylinder, so I think this theory can be regarded as disproved.

As to the number of lineside fires at one time, while it was almost certainly a coincidence, I have wondered for a while whether there was something in coordinated sabotage. It wouldn't be very deadly, but a chain over the edge of a road bridge on one (overhead electrified) line, an abandoned warehouse on fire next to another, and so on, could rapidly remove most of the routes in to London from a region. I don't think it's happened, here, though. I don't know if anyone would ever try it. I don't know of any terrorist groups who want to make 500,000 people late for their breakfast meeting.

EDIT: Rereading that I sound like quite the conspiracy theorist. It's really just something I had wondered about that seemed relevant.