To think we should avoid London right now?

[StayorgoLDN]

Due to visit London in the next few weeks.

Anxious with Palestinian protests and so forth in the news. I don’t want to be near that with young children, and worried that it may escalate to some sort of attack.

We are not Jews, but presuming as the U.K. is supporting Israel that we’ll all be fair game ie there might be an attack/bomb somewhere prominent to send a message to gov.

Have been in London during terrorist attacks before and I’d rather avoid.

AIBU to consider rescheduling our family trip to next year?

If you feel anxious then don’t go. None of us can tell you that won’t be a terror attack in London or any other major city, regardless of the current escalation of violence in Israel/Gaza.
I live and work in London and don’t think twice about it. I think it seems more scary for those that are outside a major city.

London is a very large city. I can’t say that the chance of a terrorist attack is ever zero, but it isn’t logical to e.g. drive a car (crashes happen every day) and happily accept that relatively greater risk but not the minuscule risk that you personally will be caught up in a terror attack visiting London.

We're heading to London for a theatre trip next weekend. I hadn't even thought of an increased risk to be honest? I suppose you could avoid flash points around embassies etc.

Since you’ve been in London during a terror attack, and you’re feeling like avoiding - I say listen to that gut feeling. We’ve all had different life experiences to you so it’s irrelevant what we would do.

Whatever you decide to do, let your body lead the decision.

I'm definitely avoiding central London today

We arrived into London in the midst of an attack before and were almost caught up in a bomb, except we had a last min change of plan, so that’s very vivid for me.

Wanted to ask Londoners on here what their perceptions are of how things are on the ground - obviously due to experience my opinion would be biased, and the media can distort/offer narrow view.

Think we might change the accom as quite near the embassy.

London "on the ground" is carrying on as usual. There might be a risk, but as PP says, driving anywhere is a bigger one. You make your decision based on what works for you. Personally, I refuse to live life scared and that's the basis of most of my decisions I also walk home after dark and run in the woods alone

Imagine being in london when you are Jewish. They are breaking windows in shops in Golders green. I want to visit an elderly relative but am afraid to come in with my child. I was born here, paid taxes here and now I feel like an outsider. Jews are 250k of population. A tiny minority. No one is talking about us as needing protection or support form the Uk government here in london

You won’t enjoy it if your anxious, I would rearrange.

It wouldn’t stop me going but if you don’t feel comfortable, don’t go.

Everything is normal here. I can’t imagine why you’d be particularly concerned about it, there are protests about all sorts of things in london all the time. The Israeli embassy was a fortress and the site of demonstrations long before this kicked off.

My husband goes everyday. I wouldn’t rearrange. I would say the threat is the same it’s always been.

Has there been an announcement that UK has picked its side in a war that's none of their business? How jolly retro of them..

I live in central London - I've read reports of additional policing, but not seen anything. I don't feel any additional tension; possibly there is in certain localities, but I think unlikely to impact on central tourist areas.

I work between offices in Soho and the City 4 days a week. I've not even seen a protester.

I work in central London and it's business as usual. Lots of tourists and people working. Shops normal.

I've worked there through the IRA years, 7/7, 9/11 and now this. I understand you've had a bad experience and if that's making you anxious then I would definitely change your plans until such time you feel more comfortable.

If you're anxious do whatever you feel you need to do but honestly your position is pretty irrational and you'd do better trying to tackle your anxiety than trying to avoid a theoretical risk which you can't predict. You can't eliminate risk from your life and trying to do so will just limit you.

London has been a terrorist threat from various extremist organisations of various political/religious stripes for decades (Al Qaeda/Isis/IRA). This is nothing new and the threat has been far more acute in the past but people just have to get on with it. Post 9/11 was far worse than this.

Sadly the people who are being directly threatened are British Jews. There's obviously always a marginal risk to anyone in the event of an attack but this is always the case.

And other UK cities are just as likely to be targeted as London.

The quickest way to let terrorists win is to bow down to them. In the kindest way, you are being unreasonable.

I'm Jewish and from London. This is the first time in my entire life (over 40 years) that I have not felt safe in Central london.

It might be different for you if you're not actually Jewish though.

I live nearby and haven’t considered not going into town if I want to / need to, but if you’re anxious about it best to cancel

Thanks for letting all of us British Jews know that we don't count.

My grandfather fought as a British soldier in ww2. My great-grandfather fought as a British soldier in ww1. But of course we're not really British, are we.

You do what you want but stop trying to spread fear to other people.

It's going to be endless now with these posts, isn't it?

I left outer London six months ago, was in a flashpoint area. Had to go back to check on the flat (currently being sold, allegedly) and police presence was high.

I have also lost friends in a terror attack in the past.

I am extremely relieved to be out of there. I was also in the City this week, which seemed normal, but I have to go for work, if you don't have to go and you clearly don't want to, then I wouldn't.

I am sure it won't eliminate the threats or the feelings of being in danger but there is actually a government initiative to protect jewish communities and businesses.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-announces-new-support-to-keep-british-jewish-communities-safe