Please show a source that shows the UK having more terrorist attacks than any other country. I find that to be highly unlikely. You are wrong about our security services, they are among the best, if not the best in the world. The simple truth is that no one can prevent every attack from every nutter out there. not more than every country in the last few years considering the troubles in the middle east but heres a few Attacks involving violence or serious threat to life[edit] 1970s[edit] 1971, 12 January: Two bombs exploded at the house of government minister Robert Carr. This attack was one of 25 carried out by the Angry Brigade between August 1970 and August 1971. The Bomb Squad was established at Scotland Yard in January 1971 to target the group, and they were apprehended in August of that year.[1][2] 1971, 31 October: A bomb exploded in the Post Office Tower in London causing extensive damage but no injuries. The "Kilburn Battalion" of the IRA claimed responsibility for the explosion.[3] 1972, 22 February: The Official Irish Republican Army killed seven civilians in the Aldershot bombing. 1972, 19 September: The group Black September posted a letter bomb to the Israeli embassy in London killing an Israeli diplomat.[4] 1973: The Provisional IRA exploded a car bomb in the street outside the Old Bailey. A shard of glass is preserved as a reminder, embedded in the wall at the top of the main stairs. 1973, 10 September: The Provisional IRA set off bombs at London's King's Cross Station and Euston Station injuring 21 people.[5] 1974, 4 February: Eight soldiers and 4 civilians killed by the Provisional IRA in the M62 coach bombing. 1974, 17 June: The Provisional IRA planted a bomb which exploded at the Houses of Parliament, causing extensive damage and injuring 11 people.[6] 1974, 5 October: Guildford and Woolwich pub bombings by the Provisional IRA left 4 off duty soldiers and a civilian dead and 44 injured. 1974, 22 October: A bomb planted by the Provisional IRA explodes in London injuring 3 people.[7] 1974, 14 November: James Patrick McDade, Lieutenant in the Birmingham Battalion, of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) was killed in a premature explosion whilst planting a bomb at the Coventry telephone exchange in 1974. 1974, 21 November: The Birmingham pub bombings, 21 killed and 182 injured. 1974, 18 December: Bomb planted by IRA in the run up to Christmas in one of Bristol's most popular shopping districts explodes injuring 17 people.[8] 1975, 8 August: IRA detonate a bomb in the Caterham Arms pub in Surrey, 400yds from the army barracks in Caterham. 25 injured and 8 seriously injured.[9] 1975, 27 November: IRA gunmen assassinated political activist and television personality Ross McWhirter.[10] 1975, 20 December: The Ulster Defence Association (UDA) bombed Biddy Mulligan's pub in the Kilburn area of London. Five people were injured. It said it bombed the pub because it was frequented by Irish republican sympathizers.[11] 1978, 17 December: Another bomb planted by the IRA aimed at the Christmas shoppers in Bristol takes out the department store Maggs injuring seven people.[12] 1979, 17 February: The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) bombed two pubs frequented by Catholics in Glasgow, Scotland. Both pubs were wrecked and a number of people were wounded. It said it bombed the pubs because they were used for Irish republican fundraising.[13] 1979, 30 March: Airey Neave killed when a car bomb exploded under his car as he drove out of the Palace of Westminster car park. The Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) claimed responsibility for the killing. 1980s[edit] 1980 30 April: The Iranian Embassy siege where a six-man terrorist team held the building for six days until the hostages were rescued by a raid by the SAS which was broadcast live on TV. 1981 10 October: The IRA detonated a bomb outside the Chelsea Barracks, killing two and injuring 39. 1981 26 October: The IRA bombed a Wimpy Bar on Oxford Street, killing Kenneth Howorth, the Metropolitan Police explosives officer attempting to defuse it. 1982 14 March: The bombing of the London ANC offices (African National Congress), wounding one person who was living upstairs. General Johann Coetzee, former head of the South African Security Police, and seven other policemen, claimed responsibility for the attack and applied for amnesty before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Coetzee's accomplices were Craig Williamson, John McPherson, Roger Raven, Wybrand du Toit, John Adam, James Taylor and Eugene de Kock.[14] 1982 June: Abu Nidal killed the Israeli ambassador in London.[15] 1982 20 July: The Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings in London by the IRA killed eleven members of the Household Cavalry and the Royal Green Jackets. 1982 6 December: The Ballykelly pub bombing in Northern Ireland. Seventeen people were killed including many soldiers. The Irish National Liberation Army claimed responsibility. 1983 17 December: Harrods was bombed by the IRA. Six were killed (including three police officers) and 90 wounded during Christmas shopping at the West London department store. (See Harrods bombing) 1984 12 October: Brighton hotel bombing, 5 killed and several injured in an attempt by the IRA to kill Margaret Thatcher. 1988 21 December: Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie) blown up by a bomb in a suitcase while in flight over Scotland after taking off from Heathrow. 270 were killed. 1989 22 September: Deal barracks bombing: Eleven Royal Marines bandsmen killed and 22 injured when base in Deal, Kent, was bombed by the IRA. 1990s[edit] 1990 16 May: Wembley IRA detonated a bomb underneath a minibus killing Sgt Charles Chapman (The Queen's Regiment) and injuring another soldier. 1990 1 June: Lichfield City railway station 1 soldier killed and 2 injured in a shooting by the Provisional Irish Republican Army 1990 20 July: The IRA detonated a bomb at the London Stock Exchange causing damage to the building. Nobody was injured in the blast.[16] 1990 30 July: Ian Gow MP killed by a car bomb planted by the IRA while at his home in Sussex. 1991 7 February: The IRA launched three mortar shells at the rear garden of 10 Downing Street. 1991 18 February: A bomb exploded at Victoria Station. One man killed and 38 people injured. 1992 28 February: A bomb exploded at London Bridge station injuring 29 people. 1992 10 April: Baltic Exchange bombing: A large bomb exploded in St Mary Axe in the City of London. The bomb was contained in a large white truck and consisted of a fertilizer device wrapped with a detonation cord made from Semtex. It killed three people: Paul Butt, 29, Baltic Exchange employee Thomas Casey, 49, and 15-year-old Danielle Carter. The bomb also caused damage to surrounding buildings, many of which were also badly damaged by the Bishopsgate bombing the following year. The bomb caused £800 million worth of damage, £200 million more than the total damaged caused by the 10,000 explosions that had occurred during the Troubles in Northern Ireland up to that point.[17] 1992 7 June: Wanted Provisional IRA member Paul Magee opened fire on unarmed police officers Constable Sandy Kelly and Special Constable Glenn Goodman during a routine traffic stop in North Yorkshire. Kelly escaped injury when a single bullet ricocheted off his radio, but Goodman was hit four times, and later died in hospital.[18] 1992 25 August: The IRA planted three fire bombs in Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Bombs were placed in Shoplatch, The Charles Darwin Centre and Shrewsbury Castle, the latter causing the most damage as the castle housed the Shropshire Regimental Museum and many priceless historical artifacts were lost and damaged by fire and smoke. No fatalities or injuries were recorded. 1992 12 October: A device exploded in the gents' toilet of the Sussex Arms public house in Covent Garden killing one person and injuring four others. 1992 16 November: IRA planted a bomb at the Canary Wharf, but was spotted by security guards. The bomb failed to detonate. 1992 3 December: The IRA exploded two bombs in central Manchester, injuring 65 people.[19] 1993 20 March: Warrington bomb attacks. The first attack, on a gasworks, created a huge fireball but no casualties, but the second attack on Bridge Street killed two children and injured many other people. The attacks were conducted by the IRA. 1993 24 April: IRA detonated a huge truck bomb in the City of London at Bishopsgate, It killed journalist Ed Henty, injured over 40 people, and causing approximately £1 billion worth of damage,[17] including the destruction of St Ethelburga's church, and serious damage to Liverpool St. Tube Station. Police had received a coded warning, but were still evacuating the area at the time of the explosion. The insurance payments required were so enormous, that Lloyd's of London almost went bankrupt under the strain, and there was a crisis in the London insurance market. The area had already suffered damage from the Baltic Exchange bombing the year before. (see 1993 Bishopsgate bombing) 1994 July: A car-bomb outside the Israeli embassy in London injured fourteen.[15] 1994 27 July: A car-bomb outside Balfour House in London, home to a Jewish charity, injuring five.[15] 1994 13 August: 2.5 lbs of Semtex packed into a bicycle left outside Woolworths in Bognor Regis, exploded damaging 15 shops. A similar bomb found in nearby Brighton.[20] 1995 24 January: The editor of the Des Pardes, Tarsem Singh Purewal, was shot and killed near to the newspaper's Southall office.[21] 1996 9 February: The IRA bombed the South Quay area of London, killing two people. (see 1996 Docklands bombing) 1996 15 February: A 5 lb bomb placed in a telephone box disarmed by Police on the Charing Cross Road. 1996 18 February: An improvised high explosive device detonated prematurely on a bus travelling along Aldwych in central London, killing Edward O'Brien, the IRA operative transporting the device and injuring eight others. 1996 15 June: The Manchester bombing when the IRA detonated a 1500 kg bomb which heavily damaged the Arndale shopping centre and injured 206 people. 1997 March: The IRA exploded two bombs in relay boxes near Wilmslow railway station, thereby causing great disruption to rail and road services, in Wilmslow and the surrounding area. 1999 17 April, 24 April, 30 April: David Copeland set off three nail bombs in London targeting the black, Bangladeshi and gay communities respectively, killing 3 and injuring 129. Convicted of murder on 30 June 2000. Refer also to the list of IRA terrorist incidents presented to Parliament between 1980 and 1994, listed halfway down the page here 2000s[edit] please log in to view this image Memorial in London's Hyde Park to the victims of the Islamist 7 July bombings. 2000 1 June: Real IRA bomb on Hammersmith Bridge, London. 2000 20 September: Real IRA fired an RPG-22 at the MI6 HQ in London. 2001 4 March: Real IRA detonated a car bomb outside the BBC's main news centre in London. One London Underground worker suffered deep cuts to his eye from flying glass and some damage was caused to the front of the building.[22] (See 2001 BBC bombing) 2001 16 April: Hendon post office bombed by the Real IRA. 2001 6 May: Real IRA detonated a bomb in a London postal sorting office. One person was injured.[23] 2001 3 August: Real IRA bomb explodes in Ealing, West London, injuring seven people.[24] (See 2001 Ealing bombing) 2001 4 November: Real IRA car bomb in Birmingham.[25] 2005 7 July: 7/7 central London bombings conducted by four separate Islamist extremist suicide bombers, which targeted civilians using the public transport system during the morning rush hour. Three bombs were detonated on three separate trains on the London Underground and one on a double-decker bus. 56 people were killed and 700 were injured. It was the UK's worst terrorist incident since the 1988 Lockerbie bombing and the first Islamist suicide attack in the country. 2007 January–February: Miles Cooper letter bomb campaign. 2007 30 June: Glasgow International Airport attack perpetrated by Islamist extremists. 2008 22 May: Exeter attempted bombing in a café toilet by an Islamist extremist, injuring only the perpetrator. 2010–present[edit] 2013 29 April: Pavlo Lapshyn attacks. Lapshyn, a Ukrainian student, stabbed Mohammed Saleem, a Birmingham resident to death. He later admitted to police that he wished to start a "race war".[26] Lapshyn later detonated a home-made bomb outside a mosque in Walsall on 21 June. 150 homes were evacuated but no person was injured.[26] On 28 May Lapshyn detonated a second home-made bomb near a mosque in Wolverhampton, and attacked a mosque in Tipton with an improvised explosive device containing nails on 12 July. Friday prayers were delayed that day, and so his intended victims were still inside. Laphsyn was later sentenced to serve a minimum of 40 years.[27][28][29] 2013 22 May: A British soldier, Lee Rigby, was murdered in an attack in Woolwich by Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, two Islamist extremists armed with a handgun and a number of bladed implements. Both men were sentenced to life imprisonment, with Adebolajo given a whole life order and Adebowale ordered to serve at least 45 years.[30] 2015 5 December: Three people are stabbed at Leytonstone tube station in east London, with one person suffering severe knife injuries; police subsequently announced that they were treating the stabbings as a 'terrorist incident'.[31] Video footage emerged following the stabbing of the attacker repeatedly shouting "this is for Syria", in reference to the Royal Air Force's bombing of the Islamic State in Syria, which had commenced on 3 December after parliamentary approval.[32] Prevented, failed or aborted attacks[edit] These are attacks which could have constituted a threat to life had they worked or been large enough. Does not include attacks that were merely at a talking stage and were not actually in operation. 1985: Police found 10 grenades, seven petrol bombs and two detonators at the home of former Group Development Director for the British National Party Tony Lecomber after he was injured by a nailbomb that he was carrying to the offices of the Workers' Revolutionary Party. Convicted under the Explosive Substances Act 1883. 1993 23 October: In Reading, Berkshire, an IRA bomb exploded at a signal post near the railway station, some hours after 5 lb (2 kg) of Semtex was found in the toilets of the station. The resulting closure of the railway line and evacuation of the station caused travel chaos for several hours, but no-one was injured. 2000 1 June: Real IRA suspected of planting a high-explosive device attached to a girder under the south side of Hammersmith Bridge which detonated at 4.30am.[33] 2000 17 November: Police arrested Moinul Abedin. His Birmingham house contained bomb-making instructions, equipment, and traces of the explosive HTMD. A nearby lock-up rented by Abedin contained 100 kg of the chemical components of HTMD.[34] 2005 21 July: The 21 July 2005 London bombings, also conducted by four would-be suicide bombers on the public transport, whose bombs failed to detonate. 2006 28 September: Talbot Street bomb-making haul. 2007 1 February: Plot to behead a British Muslim soldier. 2007 29 June: London car bombs. 2008 27 February: British police thwarted a suspected plot to kill Abdullah of Saudi Arabia during a state visit to Britain in the year 2007 a senior officer said. 2009 3 September : Manchester Piccadilly multiple suicide bomber plot.[35] In 2009 Pakistani national Abid Naseer, was one of 12 suspects arrested on suspicion of being part of a Manchester Terror cell, after arriving in the UK a year before. All were released on insufficient evidence, but ordered to be deported from the UK. Naseer's deportation to Pakistan was prevented on human rights grounds, as he was ruled 'likely to be mistreated'. In 2013, on further evidence from Al-Queda sources, including documents from the Bin Laden Raid, he was extradited to the US, and on 4 March 2015 was found guilty of masterminding an Al-Queda directed plot to synchronize multiple suicide bombings around Manchesters Arndale Centre and Piccadilly Shopping centre in a coordinated attack involving other locations including the New York Subway with other cells. 2012 June: Five extremists plotted to bomb an English Defence League rally in Dewsbury but arrived late and were arrested when returning to Birmingham. A sixth was also convicted.[36] 2013 April: As part of Operation Pitsford 11 Muslim extremists are jailed for a plotting terror attack involving suicide Bombers.[37] 2015 12 Feb : Liverpool Ricin Plot:[38] Mohammed Ammar Ali, an I.T. worker who rented a flat in Liverpool as a base of operations, attempted to buy 500 mg of Ricin, which could kill an possible 1,400 people, using the darkweb. He was instead delivered a white powder by the FBI. Evidence was also found of attempts to purchase rabbits or chinchillas to test the poison out on. 2015 7 July : Attempted anniversary London 7/7 bomb plot.[39] Mohammed Rehman and Sana Ahmed Khan were found guilty of possession of 10Kg of Urea Nitrate. Rehman called himself the 'silent bomber' and asked his twitter followers to choose between the Westfield Shopping Centre or the London Underground for the planned suicide bomb.
I was in the process of writing this when the thread was locked, but I thought I'd post it anyway. If a terrorist is determined to attack a target then there is realistically not a lot to stop them achieving their goal no matter how good a country's security service is. You simply can't follow every potential suspect, check every bag or suitcase. Just like a burglar breaking into your home, it's irrelevant how many locks you have, if they are determined to get in then they will.
No need to apologise from my perspective, Fin. You argued your case, and with passion, and bring a different perspective. If I upset anyone, I offer my apologies too. Personally, I didn't think the thread was particularly bad-tempered, but I fully understand sometimes the mods have to take a cautious approach. As far as I'm concerned, there is a massive security issue highlighted by the string of terrorist atrocities we have seen on the European mainland recently. It won't improve soon, it may well get far worse before it gets better. Debate should not be suppressed, and in the UK, debate necessarily involves the forthcoming referendum and whether we stay in the EU, which many see as a deeply flawed and failing project. One thing is certain, Brexit or not - there should be increased cooperation on security issues between all the European countries, and countries outside Europe including of course the US.
The UK security forces foil a huge number of terrorist plots. The problem is that, as the IRA used to say, the terrorists only have to be successful once.
I'm utterly amazed at the number of people trying to use the tragic events in Brussels to further their EU agenda. This is not something that should be used to stir up any kind of political rant - for either side. Now is for sending thoughts and prayers to those caught up in the events, whether victim, friend, relative, or witness. And for standing alongside the people working to eradicate this scourge from our world, which includes police, armed forces, intelligence services, and politicians of all hues. If you want to try and score political points off the deaths of so many people, I have no time for you, and as the mods stated, this is not the place.
Well QPR fans can't decide or agree on a very small forum It's all very much out of control IMO and I applaud the people who after these horrific events get out and continue with their lives I think it's stupid to get into who's got the best security forces or the best army. I know one thing we certainly have the worlds worse politicians and harbour some of the most evil corporate organisations here in the UK. I sincerely don't think anyone is safe it's something we all live with We aren't secure nor can anyone without severe change make us safe Love to see someone brave enough after all these attacks to sue a government for not doing their jobs I also firmly believe that until the pig heads in this world start talking and understanding cultural differences we have currently then this will continue The list posted about the era I grew up in with the IRA attacks now look at us today ... Things can be fixed People get killed and they are gone Support for the people who get caught up these things need the real support IMO The word terror has done its job IMO I firmly believe it's a control thing for the powers that be. The questions why a certain race choose to hate us isn't because they were made that way IMO the real answers are there if you really look at what the west has done. It's shameful IMO and yesterday's attack and the next 20 will take a long time for us to ask the right questions IMO We are paying for the failures of dreadful western rule and power IMO We shouldn't be paying not the general public these leaders are supposed to work for us
I agree but with these events comes outrage in many different forms Don't think any of us here know much about anything if we were all truthful. We of course taste and feel the pain in different ways ... I looked at the news last night for 5 mins and had to turn it off as the spin on drama is dreadful ... It's tapping into what most people feel geniune remorse and pity for the loss. Until the BBC reports about the damage we are causing overseas with the same gusto and direction then I will turn off . They put ideas into people's heads
Spot on Col. This was happening many years before ISIS just under another name. That was my point, although the troubles in Iraq and Syria have not helped matters.
We know your pro-EU sympathies, Chaz. Nobody is scoring political points, and I've not seen any poster here that disrespects the dead, the injured or their relatives. We've had a string of atrocities on the European mainland now, and there's a massive debate going on. It must not be suppressed.
Seeing as it is all our fault, and we (the West, presumably including France) have to take responsibility for everything including the actions of these cretins, whereas other 'cultures' don't (an incredibly patronising position) if I read your post correctly, what exactly do you suggest we do to make everything better?
And we know your pro-exit stance as well. By bringing these two into play, you're trying to kick things off here again. If you want to talk about this on the EU thread, fine. I'm more than happy to do so. Here is not the place, and the Mods locked the thread because some posters (yourself included) made this about the EU rather than the atrocities.
This atrocity has a great deal to do with the EU, particularly Schengen. Ignoring that is to adopt the approach of an ostrich.
Admit the error of our past Seems our actions in the past esp the UK have seen getting attacked Work together with anyone for peace It works Not bomb people like cowards from the air There's a start We should have st least the courage to say look we have started and aligned ourselves in War ... We shouldn't be too bothered if the war comes to us.
Admit the error of our past - fine. We have done little, historically, to help the Middle East, and a lot to damage it. But we didn't write the Koran. The people who are killing themselves to blow us up are not interested in working with anyone for peace. The clue is in the fact that they are happy to blow themselves up in their attempts to destroy us completely. Have ISIS, or the Taliban, or Al Qaeda ever said, hold on, let's talk about this? 'Cowards'? Really? There is no honour in this. What do you suggest, we fight a duel? Swords or pistols sir? I think our choice is passively let them do what they want, or fight a very long, messy and unpleasant battle. The latter is regrettable, but for me the only option. We are fighting for the values of the radical enlightenment (although most people don't know it) which is what enables us to write the crap that we do on here, and for you to hold the views that you do. You would be executed in some of the 'cultures' we are supposed to respect for some of your opinions. After a bit of torture. We will compromise our ethical integrity in the process of this fight, but if we do this consciously and explicitly, that is acceptable. As I have often said, the only real solutions are education, alleviation of poverty and the emancipation of women.
kiwiqpr, thanks for answering rangercols request for proof, I see he has gone quite. Added to your list is of course all the bomboings and shootings in NI which continue to this day. The British Secret Service is really secret
I also think one of the best security services in the world are in Israel but even they cannot stop the shootings and stabbings that occur on a regular basis, no one can. Soft targets like the ones attacked in Belgium yesterday are almost impossible to stop (7/7)
There are different countries with different outlooks on this planet I am certainly not certain we have our own house in order We don't beat people in the streets nor do we suppress gender in the west? IMO we do a lot worse than that we bullshit them into thinking we are right. The U.K. maybe needs to retreat to its own borders and become a self sufficient luxury commune
The other thing to add to the list are all the times that attacks have been defeated and we don't know about them (safeguarding the intelligence service), of which I have no doubt there are a far larger number than the list above.
