To want to warn my kids about terrorism in London

[kellyandthecat]

Looking at the news and seeing yet another gun attack in France and wondering if we're heading the same way in this country after the big demos in London against Charlie Hebdo. Feeling like a Mumbai or Paris like attack is inevitable. I am a north London mum and my kids are often around busy places in London, train stations, clubs etc. What are some practical things you can say to help them keep safe or AIBU? It's especially pressing to me because we are of Jewish heritage, very secular rarely go to temple etc but its in the back of my mind my kids could especially be a target though I don't know how you'd pick them out if that was your evil intention

do any of you think about it in busy places?

mad world

[WorraLiberty]

You've forgotten to tell us how old they are, which will make a difference to the replies.

[kellyandthecat]

doh

20, 18, 16, 13 & 13 (twins)

[ClashCityRocker]

Must admit, sometimes on the tube I do think about it.

But, there isn't a lot you can do to avoid it, bar moving to a remote part of the country. It's very very very unlikely that you'd be involved in a terrorist attack, however terrorists rely on breeding a climate of fear in order to bring change.

[kellyandthecat]

the worst ages for wandering around dodgy parts of the city essentially and feeling invincible

[Bowlersarm]

I think about it, and I'm always vigilant. I think it would go in one ear and out the other though if I tried to warn and worry my kids about it.

[Apatite1]

They are much likelier to die in a car crash than a terrorist attack. Will you never let them get in a car? Give in to fear, the terrorists have won.

Terrorists don't care how many Muslims they kill, they don't care if you are Jewish, they kill everyone.

[DisappointedOne]

I was working in London on 7/7. My sister works for the met police. I feel no fear about anything. Fear is exactly what terrorists want.

[DisappointedOne]

I was just off Russell Square when the bus bomb went off.

[DisappointedOne]

And a 20/18 year old isn't a kid. ;)

[Apatite1]

I was in one of the receiving hospitals. I went back on the tube at earliest opportunity.

[PtolemysNeedle]

I don't think about it. There are a lot of people in London, even if there is an attack, the chances of it harming your children are tiny.

[Bowlersarm]

They are her kids Disappointed. Always will be. She could have said adult child/teenager/younger children but then that kind of gets a bit unnecessarily descriptive.

[PrincessOfChina]

I think the advice I would give would be the usual advice on staying safe. They're not particularly likely to be caught up in a terrorist attack, but if they were then they should know alternative routes home or to a safe place. They should know that their mobiles probably won't work (they didn't on 7/7). For a while after 7/7 I carried a small bottle of water on the tube and tended not to wear heels to and from work in case I had to walk long distances home.

I think the knowing how the City is likely to react is the big thing though so it's not frightening.

[bruffin]

I worked in London all the way through the 80s and had the fear of the IRA attacks and was also caught up in 7/7. I was in Liverpool street and told to get out quick and was then trapped in office inside the police cordon for hours and the couldnt get home
I still regularly go into London and so do my dc 17 and 19, just are wary of something unusual.

[ajandjjmum]

My son and daughter are in their 20's Disappointed - they will always be my kids!!!

DS is now working in the centre of London, and I am constantly telling him to 'be alert'. He laughs every time!!!

[DisappointedOne]

Well yes, ajandjjmum, but presumably you don't hold their hands when crossing the road anymore. ;)

[Mistigri]

While it makes sense to teach your children how to spot potentially dangerous situations in public places, the fact is that adolescents - especially boys - are far more likely to be killed or injured in accidents caused by reckless behaviour than by anything else. Terrorism comes way down the list of risks.

Just watching the (French) news tonight and there was a report on 2 teenagers who killed themselves today messing about on thin ice :(

[Notrevealingmyidentity]

I imagine all the ones over 13 are already aware.

[ajandjjmum]

To be honest Disappointed, there are times when I'm tempted!

[mimishimmi]

I tell mine to read between the lines ....

[skylark2]

Are your kids incredibly sheltered? Surely they have seen the news and are already completely aware of what the risks might be? My 18 year old would laugh at me if I treated her as if I was more aware of basic everyday risks while travelling than she is, and she'd be right.

[Primadonnagirl]

Terrorism strikes can happen anywhere... That's the point. Do you warn them of the dangers of Glasgow? There was an attempted attack there.Im not being flippant about parental fears but you really are wasting your energy worrying about a specific place.

[TheFairyCaravan]

DH & I were talking about the likelihood of terrorist attacks last night and where they would be. I worry because both DS1 and DH are in the Armed Forces. DH was trying to explain to DS2(18) what to look out for, he would have had more luck telling the hamster!

Honestly, I think it is best to just let them go about their daily lives. We need to keep our wits about us, but we can't play into the hands of the terrorists and stop or change what we are doing.

[VashtaNerada]

I think it's more useful to make them aware of robbery and theft (lots of tips on the Met Police website). Terrorism is far too unpredictable to have any real crime prevention advice other than to report unattended baggage and if you see a psycho with a gun - hide or run!

[Primadonnagirl]

Sorry , meant to say I realise you live in London, but my point was if you take your fears to the extreme them you'd be saying they are not safe anywhere.