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?

I also lived here during the ira attacks and never felt particularly unsafe.

I do now. Are you aware that multiple Jewish schools have had to close in London today because of the declaration of Jihad against all Jews today, and credible threats being made?

How do you think I felt sending my children into school today?

Thanks. I was taking issue with the statement that everything is normal here. It really isn't for us.

I would also say that I've unexpectedly been confronted by pro-hamas protests in the past in Central London and that was well before the current horrors.

@BlurredEdges That must be very distressing for you and it's a terrible situation but the OP's circumstances are totally different.

Was visiting all over Central London yesterday (Paddington, Camden, London Bridge Embankment, Chinatown, Soho, Oxford Street) and hadn’t seen one protest or heard any rowdiness, lots of people out and about going about their day. Felt completely safe but good grief was the tube hot considering how nice it was outside despite the off and on rain.

As a Londoner I hadn’t thought about it to be honest.
I’ll be going through and walking around tomorrow in the centre. I’ve walked along side many a protest without trouble.
A terrorist attack is never zero.
This week I’ve been in my usual Jewish Bakeries and witnessed the Muslim majority clientele getting on well as usual with staff. No posters or signs out and people being normal. Social media is always more extreme than the reality.
I’d maybe though use Gloucester Road instead of High St Kensington if at the museums though, due to sheer weight of numbers and proximity to embassies

I grew up in zone 2, now live in zone 1. I must say, this would never have occurred to me.

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.

Well Britain is in part responsible for Israel & obviously the War on Terror impacted a fair few innocents. So I suppose we their is justification for an attack on us.

It’s awful but the OP has specifically pointed out that they are not Jewish.

After 9/11, those of middle eastern and Asian (subcontinent) descent did not feel safe and were disproportionately stopped at airports etc but their experience would not have been relevant to those of other descent in the same situation.

Unless someone on here is actively planning a bomb attack, then no one can tell you what to do… If you’re not going to enjoy your day because you’re going to be too stressed then don’t go. I live in London and it would never cross my mind to change my plans in the circumstances, I’m actually much more worried about bedbugs on the tube at the moment than I am about on a terrorist attack (which is not to say, I’m not deeply worried about what’s going on in the Middle East in general). But no, don’t force yourself to do something you don’t fancy

My mum and dad lived and worked in London at the height of the IRA threats. You can't stop living because of a theoretical risk.

I live in London, about to head into Central London as I did yesterday, it’s a massive place with lots of different areas. I am not near Green Lanes or areas identified as Jewish, or near embassies and Things seem entirely normal.

@DottieMoon because pro Israeli protests won't involve threats to the public, burning of flags and masked rioters

Exactly you are many times more like to have a car accident than be in danger in London.

Protests mainly peaceful but loud, north London Jewish communities are affectively living in fear though unless you know people from there most don’t register this. My understanding is lots of vigils this weekend not just protests. Protests around Israeli embassy, central London area.
I generally avoid central London with my autistic child anyway as it’s too busy and crowded

I have lived here through IRA, 7/7, nail bombs. Would you enjoy the trip if you are worried?

Wow, nice way to mock someone's genuine fears.

What utter rot! I am on my way to London today, & will go again next month.
Even if you think there is a risk (& if there is one, it's tiny), don't you think it's giving in to terrorism to run away. Please don't teach your children to be scared, that would be awful for them.

We don’t need an announcement to stand against terrorism and terrorists.

@StayorgoLDN I’m going into London next week and it hadn’t crossed my mind to cancel - it will be business as normal in London.

I’m not Jewish, if that makes a difference or not to my feelings I don’t know.

Thank you for this @MBeat this is what started me being concerned as would have been our nearest station.

Considering avoiding tube/walking as well as changing accom. It isn’t something the kids would be able to cope with and as I say I worry if things escalate within the next few days.

To anyone Jewish reading this, so sorry that these awful attacks have taken place and you’re having to live with this threat in your lives. It is unbearably difficult.

BlurredEdges: the manifestation of anti semitism is horrific. I am so sorry. We all need to take note.

But for visitors in Central London the situation is different.

I realise that that in itself is isolating.

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.

I live in a very Jewish area of London which also has a high islamic population (though not arabic islam) and have noticed no difference. No change to the private security that always exists, school open as normal, people walking about doing their business as normal etc.

Well no, but the OP isn't asking about stopping living - she's asking about a relatively small (and presumably, feasible), change to plans. People make accommodations or adjust their own (sometimes subconscious) risk controls all the time depending on circumstances.

You have to do what makes you feel comfortable, OP - no-one on here telling you that lots of other people are carrying on as normal is likely to make a difference.

If you can reschedule then I would. Not so much because I think the risk is unacceptably high, but because you would be so tense and stressed that you would be unlikely to enjoy it.

But if you decide to cancel your plans because of terrorists then you are living your life in fear of it which isn't healthy imo.

@Hbh17 unless you have lived with terrorism or been around a terrorist attack, I suggest you re-examine you opinions.

I will not put my vulnerable children in a position where they could be at risk and/or be unable to cope.

I categorically have not mocked anyone. You are either failing in reading comprehension or deliberately misrepresenting what I have said. Shame on you.