AIBU?
to think it was a nutter not a terrorist attack?
Corygal · 23/05/2013 20:36
Because that's what we all say at Lambeth College evening class, with most students coming from Woolwich. No one thinks for a minute the killers had anything serious to do with Al Qaeda but were, most likely, mentally ill, personality disordered or just plain old murderers.
What we do think is that the media has not considered this possibility, and of course now the racism and anti-muslim schtick gets another go.
edam · 23/05/2013 20:43
It's not the media, it's Cobra and the government. They don't call meetings of Cobra without reason, you know.
Yes they were clearly very angry, disturbed and irrational individuals but they do seem to have been inspired by Islamist terror groups and they are terrorists in that their aim was to use violence to cause terror for a political purpose.
rhinestone · 23/05/2013 20:43
I don't think anyone's linking them to AQ.
Well actually the suspects themselves have linked themselves to the philosophy and beliefs of Al Qaeda by the things they said whilst carrying out the attack, i.e. the stuff about getting out of 'Muslim' lands. So fairly straightforward really!
And they have links to Anjem Choudhary, the extremist preacher.
ProphetOfDoom · 23/05/2013 20:43
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Blueandwhitelover · 23/05/2013 20:45
if it was a nutter then they/he would have carried on assaulting the people in the area during the time it took the police to arrive.
This young man was targeted.May he rest in peace and his family find some crumb of comfort in the outpouring of thoughts from the public.
kim147 · 23/05/2013 20:46
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rhinestone · 23/05/2013 20:46
By the way, am chuckling at the notion that a Lambeth College evening class has a great insight into the motivation and plans of the suspects!
Best hurry home as no doubt MI5 is trying to get in touch to ask if you can all help them out, what with your incredible geo-political insights and everything!
BrianButterfield · 23/05/2013 20:46
The level of coverage is to do with the fact that lone/paired attacks from radicalised people are rare and this type is unknown in this country until now, thus posing a new and difficult to beat threat. You have a chance of stopping someone making a bomb as they leave a trail of evidence but how can you detect a threat like this?
needaholidaynow · 23/05/2013 20:47
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and 'terrorist attack'?AuntieStella · 23/05/2013 20:57
No, it's not number of people killed. Targeted assassination is a long-standing tool of the terrorist (IRA and ETA giving many recent examples of it). Nor is it method. Nor isn't necessarily killing (think of plane hijackings)
You have to look to intent - and also to effect. It is to make people feel unsafe. It is to highlight your cause.
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