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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think that I'll be fine at the Trafford Centre?

65 replies

BurtMacklinsWife · 21/12/2015 12:29

Supposed to be nipping to the Trafford Centre tonight for a last few bits for Christmas. We live 15 minutes away.

I'm surprised to find that everyone I've mentioned it to has said 'Oh, I wouldn't go.' Each worried because of the terrorist threat. My mum and gran have actually asked me not to, because they will worry. My gran said to ring her when I get back if I do go, so that she knows I'm safe!

Am I missing something?? I have quite bad anxiety, worse at the moment as having a stressful time with DD's health problems, so I'm a bit upset by all of this scaremongering!

Who here would happily go?

OP posts:

OldBeanbagz · 21/12/2015 13:51

I was there yesterday and was surprised how easily i got a parking space. I didn't give a second thought to any terror threat and even let my DC go off by themselves for 40mins. I don't feel that i should go through life being scared of what might happen.

GinIsTheBestChristmasSpirit · 21/12/2015 14:19

Terrorists? I'd be far more worried about the crowds... Do they expect you to stay in the rest of your life? Never go to a town centre or a shopping mall?

Back in the day Warrington was bombed ffs. You are likely close enough to know how much of a bog standard generic town that is.

There is always a tiny risk of terrorist threat anywhere and has been for years. The actual instances are few and far between. Don't live your life in fear. Getting in your car and driving for 15 mins is a far bigger risk than going to Trafford.

GinIsTheBestChristmasSpirit · 21/12/2015 14:21

Also it can surprise you. DH went Christmas Eve one year. I called him insane. It was dead.

x2boys · 21/12/2015 14:23

I think the trafford centre would be a nightmare four days before xmas because of the crowds[ i live in bolton so i go to the trafford centre sometimes]these rumours about the trafford centre and a terrorist attack have been doing the rounds since 7/7

NewLife4Me · 21/12/2015 14:26

I wouldn't go because of terror threat, I'm another one.
Trafford and Arndale are usually high alert anyway but xmas may be more risky, I on't know.

This added to the crowds and especially the claustrophobic environment of trafford Centre are enough to make me stay away.

SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 21/12/2015 14:29

I would go.

There has been talk about Birmingham being the next ISIS target for weeks but the Bull Ring, German Market etc. are still heaving with people. The truth of the matter is that no-one actually knows where or even if ISIS have something planned.

However, if something were to happen in the run up to Christmas, I'd be surprised if it were in one of the exact locations the media are telling us it's going to be in IYSWIM. It would be somewhere also full of people, but more off the radar and with much less security surely?

We can't stop going out at all, just incase.

BooyakaTurkeyisMassive · 21/12/2015 14:42

It's been reported that there were pictures of Birmingham, sensitive areas, places that could be likely targets, on the phone of one of the attackers. The police put out a bit of an ambiguous statement about it being unhelpful, but wouldn't deny it. Which means it's probably true.

I'm avoiding my local mall. I just don't see the need to take an extra risk when I don't have to. Did most of my shopping online which was a lot easier.

Peppaismyhomegirl · 21/12/2015 14:47

I work in one of the largest shopping centres in the uk. We havnt had one threat and retailers are tearing their hair out as rumours are keeping people away. I worked in a different shopping center after September 11th and had a specific threat and was prepared for evacuation, it was called off as found to be a hoax just as we were getting together the high vis jackets. Shoppers were totally unaware this was happening. There is no increased risk, in some ways, it's probably safer

knobblyknee · 21/12/2015 14:51

YANBU. Its exactly that kind of reaction that 'they' want. Go. Kudos for being able to do a shopping centre when you have anxiety

iklboo · 21/12/2015 14:54

The traffic is like the seventh circle of hell at the minute though. DH is stuck on the other side of it trying to get home.

Dipankrispaneven · 21/12/2015 14:56

Oh, for goodness sake. Millions of people are going into London every day and returning unmolested, and that's much more likely to be a terrorist target than the Trafford Centre. Point out to the fussers that statistically they are in fact taking much more risk every time they get into a car or cross the road.

CalleighDoodle · 21/12/2015 14:58

Every. Single. Year.

beardsrock · 21/12/2015 15:01

This is a joke, right?

As pp said,I'd be more bothered about the parking!

wannaBe · 21/12/2015 15:12

I'm going to Westfield Stratford in the morning. Would never occur to me not to.

People who stay away "just in case," are just as guilty of spreading fear and terrorism as the terrorists themselves. All you need is a few people to start living their lives differently "just in case" and the terrorists need do nothing, the public are doing it for them.

If there was a thread on here from a poster saying that she refused to get in a car or allow her DC in a car "just in case," they would be rightly told to get a grip. And yet the risk from being killed or injured in a car accident is very real. The risk of terrorism really is so tiny as to be neglidgable.

Seriously people need to stop indulging this crap.

woodwaj · 21/12/2015 15:48

I'm going Wednesday morning. I always go first thing if I can. I go quite a lot as on maternity and the soft play is free for baby! Terror threats hadn't even crossed my mind!

onlywhenyouleave · 21/12/2015 15:52

Me and DH went a couple of weeks ago on our annual Christmas shopping trip. It was much quieter than normal and there were also security guards on every entrance/exit which is not normal for the TC but should reassure you that you will be fine - there is as much risk as anywhere else and unless you stay in your house and never leave, you could technically be caught in a terrorist incident anywhere!

lostincumbria · 21/12/2015 16:02

Just a reminder

-number of people kiled by terrorists in the UK in the last ten years: one
-number of people killed by slips, trips and falls in the UK in the last ten years: 500

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 21/12/2015 16:03

I went into the city centre with husband and children at the weekend. Didn't even occur to me to be worried if I'm honest.

I'd go without a second thought.

Enjolrass · 21/12/2015 16:10

I avoid the Trafford centre at this time of year, just because I find it too busy

But I wouldn't avoid it because of terrorism.

I have been in Leeds most of day, it was fine.

Gottagetmoving · 21/12/2015 16:15

My sister has not been to the Trafford centre in years because of the threat of terrorists. There was some rumour years ago so she hasn't been since.
I won't go either but that's because it's bloody awful and crowded with people who seem more scary than terrorists

MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 21/12/2015 16:17

DD2 found some research which said that your were more likely to be burned by your pyjamas exploding that you were to be killed in a terrorist incident. Also more Americans were killed in car accidents post 9/11 where they'd driven rather than flying.

IMO you need to just get on with your life, you can't them them win.

Shirkingfromhome · 21/12/2015 16:19

I live 10 minutes away from the Trafford centre and have worked there. Every holiday time since 2008 (Easter, Christmas, summer) there are rumours of a terrorist threat. Is it the classic "a man found a wallet and handed it in, turned out to belong to a Muslim who told him to stay away from " ? If so it's bollocks.

Like everyone else has said I'd be more bothered about the traffic and I'd probably adjust your expectations of 'nipping' there!

Mrsfrumble · 21/12/2015 16:19

This CS Lewis quote appeared on my Facebook this morning and I think it's very appropriate, whether we're discussing bombs or terrorists.

Hope you find parking spot OP!

AIBU to think that I'll be fine at the Trafford Centre?

Mrsfrumble · 21/12/2015 16:22

... Although I'm not sure I'd describe nipping to the Trafford Centre 4 days before Christmas as a "sensible thing"!

TinklyLittleLaugh · 21/12/2015 16:22

Well I went last week. As ever a large proportion of my fellow shoppers were Muslim: lots of the women wearing headscarves and burquas.

I figure that terrorists would avoid an attack likely to hurt other Muslims, so I think the Trafford centre is safer than a lot of places.

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