I’m seeing threads from people justifiably worried about recent terrorist attacks and…

[CurlewKate]

..it made me wonder about the time when there were frequent IRA bomb threats and actual bombs in mainland UK. I was working in central London during those years, and I seem to remember us just accepting it as a fact of life-almost an inconvenience. That’s really weird, isn’t it? Was I just young and insensitive and feeling immortal? Or am I misremembering?

I’ve heard the coconut thing before, it’s pretty easy to avoid a falling coconut should one think it’s an issue.

On ‘rage bait’ and ‘scaremongering’ is that how you view eg post the Manchester Arena bombing?

No, you're not mis-remembering - it was just a fact of life for those of us who lived/worked in inner London, and like many I had a few close calls.

As for the IRA giving warnings - they didn't always, and some of the warnings were too late or vague.

There were many fatalities e.g. Harrods, Hyde Park Barracks, various railway stations. I've just Googled a list of IRA London bombings and there are far more than I initially remembered.

I think this is a very significant point. I was about 10-11 in the late 70s which I seem to remember being the worst period for the IRA bombings, and I do have to say I used to find it somewhat frightening watching the news. The newsreaders used to wear such stern expressions in those days too (quite rightly when they had to report this sort of thing, but they did look markedly more stern than today's newsreaders). I was quite an anxious child and if that had been replicated in 24-hour rolling news I think I'd have been a nervous wreck.

If I'd actually been an adult having to go about my day-to-day business anywhere that had been targeted, I'd have been even more scared. But I think you're right, OP - there might have been a degree of desensitisation because it was happening a lot and people probably had to practise a degree of pragmatism.

My SIL worked in London for decades and all throughout that time. She always said she was just used to it.

It’s the 24/7 news reporting that has changed things.

It's gauche to worry about Islamic terrorism or getting stabbed by a lunatic on the street, that's what you're saying, isn't it OP?

and of course you’re a terrible person for worrying.

The thing with coconuts is they fall from above, so not easy to avoid. You don't see them coming.

To quote you: " On ‘rage bait’ and ‘scaremongering’ is that how you view eg post the Manchester Arena bombing? "

Of course I do not see reporting on actual terror attacks as rage bait. But I do consider the likes of GB news as rage bait. Every stabbing reported etc. If people only read GB news, I am not surprised many folk might be reluctant to venture out.

And the right wing press literally do fear monger. Because a scared electorate are more likely to vote for the "law and order" Parties are scared.

There are stacks of academic articles and papers on this. Here is a one I randomly clicked from a search just now, this being about media coverage of BLM:

Anger, Fear, and the Racialization of News Media Coverage of Protest Activity | Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics | Cambridge Core

We all know what rage baiting is. Take these headlines for a fictional story.

Local news : " Local man Mohammed Shami saves child from dog attack"

Guardian : " Heroic migrant saves child from savage dog attack"

GB News " Muslim migrant kills family pet"

Extreme fake example of course, but we all see similar when we read the news. Is there rage bait in the above ?

Have there been any terrorist killings recently in the UK apart from the synagogue? Are the numbers going up? There is definitely a rise in far right incidents is that what you mean?

I remember hearing a bomb going off when I lived in Clapham and went back to bed, knowing I wouldn't be able to get into work that day.

I think I’m more worried these days because of the different nature of some of the attacks.

Bear in mind that the ira would normally give warnings as well. I was in Manchester City centre when the Arndale centre was blown up and we were all evacuated. Iirc I don’t think anyone died and the city centre round the Arndale was half obliterated.

But also I think I used to think what’s the point in worrying about a bomb. If it goes off and you’re too close then that’s that. But i worry more about mass stabbings, cars getting driven into crowds, etc. Because if you were caught up in that you have a chance potentially to get away, so I’m more alert to that sort of thing. Where are the exits, where would I go, etc. probably still pointless but I think the thought that my choices could save my life actually stresses me more.

Plus it’s easier for an individual to get a knife or a car and harm people, less chance of them being picked up by the police in the planning stage compared to making a large semtex bomb. So I feel the risk is greater.

And I agree I think the media and also now social media will increase our fear.

Ok but I’m feeling pretty safe from coconuts rn as I’m pretty far from any tree (your line read as a bit of comedy given I really would be surprised to see a coconut coming at me atm). And if I think there’s a risk near one I can go around it.

I think the reaction to major terrorist attacks is pretty sound. I’m in London and every day people still live their daily lives. I get on trains along will millions of others, people go to the theatre and concerts. They’re often full.

At the same time bollards are put up where cars can drive through pedestrians because some learnt from Bastille Day parade atrocity, and MI5 continue to stop most terrorist attacks tg.

Overall I’m happy with people paying attention to the threat of terrorism over coconuts or other.

People just got on with things. My parents were in their forties during the IRA mainland campaign and my father worked in the City. Both of them were children during WWII, my mother lived in nazi occupied Paris and my father was evacuated as he was on the south coast.

I guess if you've lived through all that, terrorism is just more of the same. No point worrying about things you can't control and life is for living. So many people died, that they were grateful for what they had and the fact they survived when so many didn't.

One night around midnight I heard a huge dull 'boom' in the distance and knew it was a bomb - think that's the only time I've heard a bomb in real time.

It was an IRA car bomb outside the BBC on Wood Lane - we lived a few miles away so not directly affected.

It's the algorithms and 24 hour news, both of which are appalling for mental health.

Also, the IRA gave warnings when they felt like it. There was never any guarantee either that a warning would occur or that it would done in sufficient time to allow evacuation. So for example there were none at all in the Shankill chip shop and Brighton bombings. The one for the Birmingham pub bomb was 9 minutes, which wasn't enough.

It's possible that people overstated the extent to which the warning system protected them as a psychological defence, but worth being clear on what actually happened.

I remember it being a threat.
Dm used to tell us not to play/hang around in band stands because she thought they were targets. We were shown how to recognise an army number plate and told not to stay near a car that was obviously army.
At uni I had a friend from Ireland who if he heard a bang would throw himself to the ground and cover his head. Tbf his family were fairly heavily involved in the troubles from what he said, but it caused a few awkward conversations.

Although on the latter, I was in our little local town shortly after a terrorist incident (not in our town), and I heard bangs and people turned and fled. Turned out to be a car backfiring (several times) but people did react immediately.

As others have said, the difference was that the IRA normally gave warnings, so that gave some "chance". They wanted to cause "terror" and disruption. Current terrorists seem to want to kill as many people as possible.

But having living near Blackpool during the party conferences there was a definitely stress. Cars could be stopped and searched. Our school was evacuated due to a suspect bomb (abandoned car nearby), you were warned not to touch unknown packages and encouraged to report, local cadets were told not to travel in uniform and change when they got there etc

I can remember on more than one occasion being hustled away from a crowded place during the party conferences on the basis that crowded places were the sort of targets they liked.

@PrizedPickledPopcorn A lot of Americans donated to the IRA I remember being on the platform at Reading station and some American tourists were trying to find the trash can as they called it. I explained due to bomb threats why they had been removed and they seemed taken aback by that comment. A bomb did actually go off at that station a few weeks later. Just looked it up, was 1993. I was also evacuated from Digbeth coach station about that time.

Agreed @OnlyOnAFriday I don’t know how to make a bomb but most adults can get access to a car.

Of course it was a fact of life in the 70s, and we just got on with it. But we were brought up by a wartime generation, who really did live with risk, so everyone knew that you just crack on and don't make a fuss. But as real risk recedes into history, people are less able to rationalise this stuff, and their risk-assessment skills are lacking. Chuck in the nonsense that can be spread on social media, and people lose all common sense. If only we could tell some of these folk to just grow a backbone!

"Ok but I’m feeling pretty safe from coconuts rn as I’m pretty far from any tree (your line read as a bit of comedy given I really would be surprised to see a coconut coming at me atm). And if I think there’s a risk near one I can go around it."

I think what is good about the coconut thing is that it does lead into individual risk assesment. No coconut trees where I am, so I can ignore that. But if someone does see a tree on holiday, its... ohh.

It's the same when it's windy. Be more aware of the risks of falling trees. We live in a typhoon zone, and I keep telling my daughter, keep your head up when outside in the wind, the danger is from above.

I totally agree with you re bollards etc, and paying a bit more attention if there is a raised alert.

Well the op reached her goal here. Have a go Sunday.

Luckily there’s a bit more stringency than this when determining risk from terrorism.

Whilst the IRA did give warnings I find the comments about them not causing destruction to the public odd. Birmingham Pub Bombings? Arndale? Warrington? Guildford? Just the ones off the top of my head. Yes they also did some political figures but no different to what terrorists would do now if they could get nearer them and let's not forget Sir David Ames or cases like Lee Rigby which were designed to be political

I think the scary thing for a while was almost like they were trying to outdo each other and go bigger for the notoriety. But now there's so many lone rangers trying to do their own thing and that's even scarier because you can't account for everyone. At least in an organised group you have a chance of knowing who they are.

Local news : " Local man Mohammed Shami saves child from dog attack"

Guardian : " Heroic migrant saves child from savage dog attack"

GB News " Muslim migrant kills family pet"

Are you able to give a real example @RedTagAlan or do you only have fake ones?

nb I know you have stated your example is fake. I’m interested if you can produce a real one.

And the Blitz in our grandparents time.

What is interesting re the IRA, is that it was Thatcher who led the " we will carry on as normal" counter campaign. Remember her statement outside the Brighton Hotel ?

But now it's the very people most likely to idolise her who are telling us to be scared. I suspect Churchill himself would accuse the right wing media of today of letting the terrorists win.

Then again, the Mail did support the Austrian Corporal in the 30s, so there is that.

Really?

Children and adults still go to concerts. They get packed out in fact. I think a lot of the summing up along op’s lines is wanting to feel superior tbh

I didn't know there have been any recent terrorist attacks in London?

And yeah I grew up in that time and I remember just watching this massive mushroom cloud once from my mates flat. And bangs all the time. They stopped putting bins in stations and streets but everyone just got on with it.

Having said that the IRA often gave warning and did bombs in the city on weekends so I guess it seemed less dangerous. Sadly there were some terrible ones in other places though.