2 explosions at the finish line at the Boston Marathon.

[landofsoapandglory]

BBC have it as news at the moment.

Sky also have it.

One person dead according to Sky on the TV.

Dreaming - I think the only answer to why really is that some people think reasonable, respectful debate is not as effective shouting and ordering people around and when that isn't effective some are wired to think it's better to go a step further, or skip steps one and two entirely, and just go for harming fellow human beings. Some people are just wired that way - they feel it is their God given right to do what the heck they like to get their point across (sometimes sickeningly in the name of their God too).

Skipped -- I think that's a big part of 'why', but in my opinion you can't just look to human psychology. The broader political, economic and social context does matter too.

Modern terrorism has been around since the 19th century. If it were really just a matter of human psychology, we would expect to see consistent levels of terrorism since then -- but we don't. There are big bursts and falls, in response to many political and societal factors.

Right now people are looking at Boston and saying: is this international terrorism of the sort we've been dealing with a lot in recent years -- or is this the hallmark of a new era of right-wing terrorism, which will probably be unlike what we've seen before? It's a hugely important question. We might be dealing with pathologically violent people either way, but they will be really different phenomena.

Hm....well, while their political/religious/socio-economic beliefs may be different, don't all people who believe their beliefs (whatever those beliefs may be) should be foisted upon everyone else and that they should do this by methods of violence have an inherent God-complex and complete lack of empathy for anyone outside of their compact circle of belief?

The context matters - because without context we can't understand their particular brand of hatred - but even without the context, they still resort to the same answer to their frustrating problem - kill and maim to get the attention they feel they so rightly deserve.

Yes, that's true. If you look at extremists and ideological killers all over the world, they tend to have very similar narratives that justify their violence, similar 'vanguard' or messianic tendencies.... the details in the ideology are different but the overall thought processes are very similar.

The details are important, though, in terms of trying to prevent that violence. You can't just try to stop every crazy individual out there, you need something to focus on.

You can't just try to stop every crazy individual out there

Well actually that is what most of the civilised world does do - with gun controls, weapons controls and decent mental health support free at the point of contact.

Even after Sandy Hook and now this, the USA cannot grasp that most nutters so nasty stuff because they can. So the best thing to do is to reduce access to equipment and increase mental health support.

The nearest UK equivalent is probably David Copeland en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Copeland

Talk - we seem to be on the same page on some of the politics happening in the USA - I quite often despaired during the 6 years I spent over there (but also experienced some truly wonderful things too). To be fair though, we really don't know who is responsible for this as yet.

skipped
I was born there. I could move my family there no problem.
But until the paranoia and guns are dealt with I'll stay in the UK.

I found the security at Newark Airport this winter just shocking and it shows and an attitude that I'd rather not live amidst.

As has been said on a lot of the rational media, if it was a pressure cooker and scrap metal, it will be the same as the ones that go off in Iraq and Afghanistan several times a day, every day.

I have lost my ability to cope with this kind of news.

I start to tear up whenever I think of that 8 year old and his mum lying in critical condition....if she pulls through she'll awake to find her little one gone.

Too sad for words really

I don't know, Talkin, plenty of countries in the civilised world, ones with gun control and free health care, also experience terrorist attacks. The UK has historically suffered from terrorism more than the US. Norway had its own awful tragedy last year.

I do agree with you re gun control and all that, I just think you need more than that. As you say, this was a pressure cooker and scrapnel.

dreaming
but the USA has "going postal" events monthly and still has not clamped down on the rules
as the UK did after Dunblane / Hungerford etc and after the IRA were forced into cease fire.
You cannot stop all but you can at least make an effort : the USA sticks its fingers in its ears and shouts NRA

the Boston ones were Gunpowder : from where ...

And after yesterdays vote? I am more ashamed at my countries attitude than ever.

Sorry that was really badly written.

After yesterday's failure of the Background Checks Bill, I am once again ashamed to be an American.

I am so glad I live in the UK.

Not that I think that bill would have helped in this case since you can make a bomb from common household products, but it would have helped in the future.

More head shaking from me...I just don't' understand what is happening over there, at all. I met so many wonderful people - thoughtful, respectful, critical thinkers...and yet their voices just seem to get continually drowned out by people who just point the finger screaming "unpatriotic" and other such nonsense - using fear and shame to try to silence reason.

Talkin, I agree, I just think there's a difference between 'going postal' events and terrorism (although some overlap). The US clearly has a huge problem with the former, while lots of countries are struggling with terrorism.

I also can't believe the vote yesterday. 90% of Americans support expanded background checks and they still voted it down! Sickening.

I do wonder if people overseas understand that it's basically a problem of corruption, ie the NRA essentially buying votes. I'm not sure European countries have anything like the American lobbyist system.

With all this and the ricin and the explosion in Texas, it's all feeling a bit end of days to me. What a horrible week.

Lobbyists are the black death.

Another expat Yank who is genuinely horrified that the legislators can be so crass and self serving to rate the bungs they get from the NRA higher than their electors' lives.

Must be terrifying in Boston right now :(

What happened at the MIT?

Looks like a police officer was shot :(

The Guardian is running a live blog on everything that's happening. It's completely bonkers. At least they caught one of the guys.

There's a feed where people are apparently listening to police scanners, and they've just said that it sounds like the 2nd suspect is dead. Wait to see if they are right.

Police conference being broadcast live on SKY right now. Situation is described as "fluid". All public transport suspended. Residents told to go home and stay indoors, and not answer doors unless to uniformed police.

All businesses in specified areas told not to open.

One police officer shot dead, another shot and hospitalised. Another person, an unidentified adult male, confirmed to have died of wounds from shooting in hospital (confirmed by hospital); believed but not officially confirmed to be one of the suspects.

Not sure of the time difference, but I assume people are just starting to wake in Watertown, how will people be notified if they haven't checked the news before leaving the house?