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Original poster

20th Anniversary of 9/11. Would you feel safe visiting London?

65 replies

Lamping · 31/08/2021 21:19

We’ve booked tickets to a show on that date, tickets to go on the London eye etc, a nice day out.

My mother has gone to pieces as it’s the 20th anniversary of the terror attack and due to the recent events in Afghanistan she thinks there may be a higher risk of something happening. I hadn’t even thought about it to be honest!

She thinks we should cancel but we’ve spent a lot on tickets and we are looking forward to it.

Now she’s put the idea in my mind I’m worried.

Please tell me she’s being ridiculous!

OP posts:
FlorenceWintle · 31/08/2021 22:20

@frogswimming

I don't think terrorists care about anniversaries.
This. Has there ever been a terrorist attack on the anniversary of a previous one?
spongedog · 31/08/2021 22:21

It is a big day - no doubt about that. Bringing down those 2 glorious internationally-known buildings is probably something every terrorist has wet dreams about. But terrorists have tried to destroy London for decades and decades+. Seriously the only reaction is fuck-em.

I will cry on 9/11 as I have done every year. But I was working in Canary Wharf that day and yes Canary Wharf was considered to be a high risk target. But I dont ever stop doing what I want to on that day. Please go and enjoy yourselves. There has been little enough to enjoy over the last couple of years.

muffinffaces · 31/08/2021 22:24

Tbh you just can't think about it. The nature of terrorism these days are lone wolfs are unpredictable & can strike randomly.

LargeBouquet · 31/08/2021 22:26

@PicaK

7/7 more significant for London.
Yes, and pretty much all of us got back on the tube and buses the next day to get on with our lives. I was on the train behind the Piccadilly line one with the bomb, and continued to live and work in London for years afterwards.

Your mother is being a bit mad.

Saoirse82 · 31/08/2021 22:26

If anything I think it'll be safer than usual! I'd say I'm a fairly anxious person when it comes to this kind of thing, I have an over active imagination but this wouldn't stop me going. Go and have fun!

ActonSquirrel · 31/08/2021 22:27

After 7/7 people got up the next day and used the tube.

Terrorism doesn't work on Londonders generally, we are not afraid

Stay away if you are by 9/11 didn't happen in London.

Fauvist · 31/08/2021 22:30

I live in London and would not give this a second thought. Your mother is being ridiculous.

muffinffaces · 31/08/2021 22:31

After 7/7 people got up the next day and used the tube.

Terrorism doesn't work on Londonders generally, we are not afraid

Well people did including myself but the tubes were pretty empty on 8/7 & if I remember correctly numbers were down particularly on weekends for a bit.

idontlikealdi · 31/08/2021 22:32

It wouldn't even cross my mind.

TheLovelinessOfDemons · 31/08/2021 22:32

I live here so......

spongedog · 31/08/2021 22:50

9/11 didn't happen in London

No it didnt. But none of us working that day knew that. Canary Wharf Tower as the tallest financial services building in Europe was a clear prime target. And many other terrorist attacks have hit London and the City hard. But still fuck-em - you have to get on with life.

Firsttimecatlady · 31/08/2021 23:18

I’d actually say big anniversaries are safer days than all the others. Increased awareness, increased policing and security (to reassure the public usually) and people more vigilant. I’d absolutely go, as you’ll likely be at less risk than any other day. (And no, can’t imagine terrorists give two shiny shits about marking anniversaries- that’s not their main objective).

Lockheart · 31/08/2021 23:22

There are several million of us living and working here OP, what would you have us do?

I'll be off to work as usual.

AmelieLovesAutumn · 31/08/2021 23:26

I'd be less bothered on that day than many others as there isn't one event as a focal point for terrorists. New Years Eve fireworks are a much more likely target.

It's not something I give much thought to

Go, enjoy your day, try not to let her spoil it for you.

MatildaOfFlanders · 31/08/2021 23:28

She’s being daft. Go and enjoy yourself.

sst1234 · 31/08/2021 23:44

Huh? That’s a totally random thing to be worried about. I could understand if an American had said this.

minipie · 01/09/2021 00:28

I live in London and this wouldn’t have occurred to me for a tiny second.

BritWifeInUSA · 01/09/2021 04:02

Wouldn’t have occurred to me and I live in the US.

LimeRedBanana · 01/09/2021 04:22

What does she think Londoners are going to do on the anniversary?

She’s being irrational.

I was in London, one block back from the Houses of Parliament on the day itself, at work. London wasn’t the focus.

1forAll74 · 01/09/2021 05:03

This is always going to be an issue, for those who tend to worry and get anxious about everything.

Balonzette · 01/09/2021 05:47

I wouldn't but I avoid London in general when I'm back in the UK because I'm scared of terrorists Blush (small town coward over here)

Jasmine11 · 01/09/2021 06:44

OP, does your mother think all 8.9 million of us Londoners will be cowering under our beds for the day on the 11th?!

TellMeItsNotTrue · 01/09/2021 13:45

The thing is, you could cancel the trip and spend the day in your home town, and something could happen there 🤷‍♀️

I mean, why did they choose the Manchester arena? Take-That were playing at Liverpool at the same time, I'd have thought it would have been a bigger deal, but that wasn't the concert they chose.

Nobody knows what/where something is going to happen, someone might have looked at her tour and decided that London was too risky so travelled to Manchester to see her 🤷‍♀️

It is scary but we have to live our lives, just be aware of our surroundings. I hope you have a great time

Sparklesocks · 01/09/2021 13:47

Yes I’d feel comfortable being there

MorganKitten · 01/09/2021 14:09

I live in London and not thought about it