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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you visit Manchester today?

30 replies

ButWhysTheRumGone · 02/10/2025 14:17

I’m a very anxious person especially around threats of terrorism thanks in part to having brothers in the British Army in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. I’m not a fan of that misnomer. I believe most people would be anxious after any recent terror attack. The sight of extra police especially armed police makes me more anxious. I know they are supposed to be reassuring but I see them and think they are expecting trouble and that it’s more likely to happen.
I was due to take 10 year old Ds into Manchester City centre after school today. It’s not near the scene of the awful attack today but I don’t know if I am overreacting avoiding the city centre. I’m
Autistic and have no friends to talk about things like this. I’m expecting a greater police presence around town. I don’t need to go. We’ve planned this trip but it doesn’t matter if we don’t go but maybe I’m being silly and something awful is no more likely to happen today than any other day.
I’m sickened by the hatred in this country and around the world in general. Will it ever end.

OP posts:
mumofoneAloneandwell · 02/10/2025 14:20

Will ds be upset if you dont go? Will it impact traffic or public transport?

Yanbu to feel anxious at all, if you can avoid it then maybe give it a miss xx

Superhansrantowindsor · 02/10/2025 14:21

i would absolutely go unless the police tell you otherwise. However, if you don’t need to go then just leave it until tomorrow.

Annoyeddd · 02/10/2025 14:22

Yes I would. It's a big place.
The only problem is that transport and roads may be closed or others busy.
There will be a lot of police around.
I had been planning to go into central London on 7/7 but there were no trains or buses it wasn't because I felt less safe than any other day.

Tbrg · 02/10/2025 14:24

The person who did it isn’t on the loose (if it’s the same event I’m thinking of) and the bigger police presence will actually make it safer.
If it will make you appear anxious to your DS though I wouldn’t go.

Helpwithdivorce · 02/10/2025 14:25

Manchester City centre is miles away from heaton park. I would go. It’ll be business as usual in the city

HundredMilesAnHour · 02/10/2025 14:26

I’d go ahead. Avoiding the city centre is an over-reaction given the attack was outside the centre and was clearly targeted at a specific group. Appalling as this is, unless you’re a member of that group and are intending visiting a synagogue or other form of related centre, I don’t see why you would avoid going into the city centre today.

user2848502016 · 02/10/2025 14:28

I wouldn’t go unless I really needed to, aside from any risk of another attack there is likely to be traffic disruption etc

HundredMilesAnHour · 02/10/2025 14:29

I believe most people would be anxious after any recent terror attack.

I don’t actually agree with this. Aware yes, anxious no. Otherwise most of London would have been living in a state of anxiety for the past few decades. Living in fear means the terrorists win.

PrioritisePleasure24 · 02/10/2025 14:32

I’m 5 miles out of the city. I would. The attack wasn’t anywhere near the centre. That area is all cordoned off.

As a teen i was back in the city centre as soon as things reopened after the IRA attack. Because terrorists won’t stop me living life.

PrioritisePleasure24 · 02/10/2025 14:32

user2848502016 · 02/10/2025 14:28

I wouldn’t go unless I really needed to, aside from any risk of another attack there is likely to be traffic disruption etc

It’s miles away, it won’t affect traffic in the city. Which is always awful anyway!

ButterPiesAreGreat · 02/10/2025 14:35

I live 40 mins away and I would go. It’s a part of Manchester I never go to where the attack was. There may be more police on the streets but that’s a good thing.

PinkChaires · 02/10/2025 14:35

Theres bus strikes today anyway so the attack hasnt impacted buses (but you might find it hard to get in due to the strike)

Westfacing · 02/10/2025 14:38

I don’t need to go. We’ve planned this trip but it doesn’t matter if we don’t go

In that case don't go!

You're fretting about something that you don't have to do - do it another day.

ExtraOnions · 02/10/2025 14:43

I went out in Manchester the day after the Arena bombing … these people win of they make us too scared to live our lives.

SummerHouse · 02/10/2025 14:43

I wouldn't have anxiety about going but as it's something that can be done another day, that's what I'd do. Just feels like that's the thing to do. Not sure why.

Original poster
ButWhysTheRumGone · 02/10/2025 14:45

Thank you. It’s always good to have a sounding board. We would be getting the train in so traffic and buses won’t make a difference to us.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 02/10/2025 14:46

I don't think there is a safety risk. But streets might be cordoned off and traffic diverted. It would be sensible to stay away.

Cinaferna · 02/10/2025 14:52

I voted YANBU for reacting to what happened, and this putting you off. You may also want to avoid making your DS anxious.

In your position, I might say to him: we have to put off our plan for a little while as some people were causing trouble and the police need to make sure everywhere is nice and safe. So let's wait a day or two.

Realistically, I think things are probably as safe as they will ever be, with a lot of police presence, so you could take him into town and just let him know - if there is evident police presence - that the police found someone breaking the law yesterday so they are just making sure that everyone is safe, that is their job.

Starlight1984 · 02/10/2025 14:52

I'm in Manchester right now and it's the same as any other day. If I hadn't seen the news I wouldn't know what had happened. The attack at the Synagogue was Prestwich way (I believe) which is about 5 miles away so really wouldn't have any impact at all on the day to day goings on in the city centre.

Starlight1984 · 02/10/2025 14:54

Viviennemary · 02/10/2025 14:46

I don't think there is a safety risk. But streets might be cordoned off and traffic diverted. It would be sensible to stay away.

Nonsense. The street where it happened is miles from Manchester city centre! There is absolutely nothing like that going on in the city centre. It's just business as usual.

Sad to say but as a nation (and indeed the world we live in) we get more and more immune to these things happening and - as utterly tragic as they are - life tends to go on as normal.

I was in Manchester the day after the Arena bombing and all the shops and businesses were open as normal. And that had been a mass terrorist attack in the centre of the City!

HoomCar · 02/10/2025 14:58

ButWhysTheRumGone · 02/10/2025 14:17

I’m a very anxious person especially around threats of terrorism thanks in part to having brothers in the British Army in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. I’m not a fan of that misnomer. I believe most people would be anxious after any recent terror attack. The sight of extra police especially armed police makes me more anxious. I know they are supposed to be reassuring but I see them and think they are expecting trouble and that it’s more likely to happen.
I was due to take 10 year old Ds into Manchester City centre after school today. It’s not near the scene of the awful attack today but I don’t know if I am overreacting avoiding the city centre. I’m
Autistic and have no friends to talk about things like this. I’m expecting a greater police presence around town. I don’t need to go. We’ve planned this trip but it doesn’t matter if we don’t go but maybe I’m being silly and something awful is no more likely to happen today than any other day.
I’m sickened by the hatred in this country and around the world in general. Will it ever end.

I don’t know if it reassures you but I’m in Manchester city centre right now and you wouldn’t know anything had happened.

OnTheBoardwalk · 02/10/2025 15:22

Prob too late in the conversation but as PP said there’s a bus strike on lots of services today so trams, trains and roads will be busier

This is the reason I wouldn’t go into Manchester today not the dreadful attack

if you don’t go in today do check the traffic sites for any other strikes on other days, especially at the time you are planning to travel

NotEnoughKnittingTime · 02/10/2025 15:23

Probably safest day to go to be honest.

OnTheBoardwalk · 02/10/2025 15:24

ButWhysTheRumGone · 02/10/2025 14:45

Thank you. It’s always good to have a sounding board. We would be getting the train in so traffic and buses won’t make a difference to us.

They'll be a lot more people on the trains if no buses

LlynTegid · 02/10/2025 15:27

I would avoid being anywhere near Heaton Park to let the police and others do their job, but otherwise I would go if I had planned to.

Thoughts for the victims, their families and all who knew them.