To consider cancelling Spanish holiday for fear of a terror attack

[MiMiMaguire]

Due to travel to Spain for 2 weeks soon with DH and DD... Am really terrified of a terrorist attack at a tourist spot/beach , really feel like not going (at the loss of over 2k) and staying put where I feel safer..my DH wouldn't feel the same I really am afraid. Really hope there are no fatalaties in London tonight, Hope everyone is ok.

There was an attack on the promenade at Nice... during a public parade.

Depending which part of Spain, but I guess a terrorist attack would more likely be the work of some kind of Basque separatist/ETA type nutter.

Unfortunately the reality is that terrorist attacks are likely to be around for the foreseeable future. I remember the IRA attacks on mainland U.K. Also the attacks by Basque terrorists.it is not a new thing.

Go ahead and enjoy your holiday. The chances of you being caught up in any terrorist incident are still absolutely tiny.

I assume you live in the U.K.? You're more likely to get caught in an attack here at a large shopping centre than on the beach in Spain. YABU

ETA officially announced cessation of attacks in 2011 and announced this April they were officially disbanded and handed over all weapons.

So an attack has to be specifically on a beach to to be an attack on tourists?

Nice is a tourist resort on the French Riviera. The Christmas market in Berlin is a tourist attraction. Both these places have been targeted by terrorists.

Yes, the threat in Spain may be lower right now but the OP is worried. As someone said on another thread, this fear may not be altogether rational but isn't that how terrorism works, by planting these fears in the first place.

That was to OnGoldenPond.

Well what does anyone think about other European cities?

My parents are in Benidorm now. I'm certainly less worried about them there than the time they're in London at either end of the holiday!!

Never leave your house again. That's the safest thing.

YABU. Enjoy the holiday.

Shockers did you signal the police to one over to tell them about the men's behaviour?

I genuinely think this is key. None of us should be considering tackling suspicious looking behaviour, but we should all be alert to it. I'd rather the rozzers thought I was barking mad, than be frightened about being on a ferry.

I was in Paris a s week before their last awful attack. Whilst I was waiting at the Eiffel Tower I saw a couple of men shin a fence. I alerted the security people and they were on it in a flash. I felt vaguely stupid when it was clear they were pissed and horsing about, but hey-Ho.

'Well what does anyone think about other European cities?'

That they are cities, like any others. If people chose to live their lives in terror that's their lookout, but the ones paying the price is themselves. It doesn't make them any safer.

Just got back from Spain and I felt A LOT safer there than I do here from a terrorism perspective

Margot - really not getting anywhere arguing about things that happened in France so I'm not going to bother. It's no help to the OP as she is not going to France.

I'm not being dismissive of OPs fears just trying to reassure her with cold hard facts. She is in fact much safer in Spain than in the U.K. Surely the best thing to do is take reasonable precautions then get on with our lives?

What's the alternative, live in a cave in Bhutan (where you could easily fall prey to all manner of disease but the terrorists won't get you)?

The Middle East is a BIG place folks. Like Europe is a big place.
In the part where I am, it's been many years since there was a terror attack.

Well yes, I agree. I haven't advocated hiding away from life at all, just simply said that it's not hard to see why people may be anxious and calling them melodramatic really doesn't help. (I know you personally did not say that).

The greatest danger you are in is probably a local journey you make, given the number who die in road accidents. You re all travelling together. Go and have a lovely time.

I would never dismiss people's fears, I sympathise, DD has a friend who lives round the corner from Borough Market so often has nights out in the area. She was there last Saturday night. I will be biting my nails to the knuckles next time she is out but, because she must be allowed to live her life and the chances of her being caught up in anything similar are so vanishingly small, I will not be trying to stop her.

I sympathise with the OP's anxieties, but agree with pps that life is full of danger, and we have to live with risk every day. Even in our own homes we are not one hundred per cent safe - possible house fire, gas explosion, falling tree, armed intruders, a plane falling from the sky...
This is life. And the awareness that it could be curtailed/devastated at random, any time and in any place, should drive us to enjoy it while we can, not reduce it to a half-life of missed opportunities due to potential risks.

I personally am avoiding airports for a while as they're often a target. However, each to their own.

personally am avoiding airports for a while

Ok but how long for? The risk is going to be the same for the foreseeable future.

Unfortunately, this is our new normal. I can't see it ever ending, the evil has spread too far already thanks to internet etc. We're going to have to live with it.

finnegan no we damn well are not!

OP you are far more likely to die in a car accident if you stay at home than you are if you go on your holiday.

I don't really understand these reactions from people unless you have underlying MH issues in which case I sympathise.