Why France?

[JumpandScore]

Why, particularly, does France get targeted for these attacks? As I understand it there are plenty of other countries just as (more?) involved in Syria than they are. That seems to be the assumption ATM, that this was is all about the intervention in Syria.

I've been wondering the same thing. It's so sad what's happened now.

I wondered that too. I do think their more recent hardline ban against overtly religious dress e.g. burkas has brought a negative view from those it impacts but it is no doubt more complex than that.
Whatever the 'reason'- there can be not reason- it's just awful

They banned religious dress such as the burka and Charlie hebdo perhaps? Although these are no reason to kill innocent civilians. It's horrendous I'm listening to radio 4 and feeling absolutely shocked for all those affected

DH says it's because the other main European Countries likely to be targeted (he means UK and Germany) have stronger security services and are thwarting attempts everyday. I'd like to believe our people are keeping us safe but that feels a bit jingoistic and complacent to me.

I don't know why France. What is the France/Syria history?

I agree with your DH Jump I am certain that similar attacks are planned and stopped in the UK. However I dont understand why France's security services would/could be weaker than the UK's. Also as far as I can understand it, the security piece is completely international - everyone helps each other with the 'chatter' they pick up and translate don't they?

Certainly I dont think we are safer in London than Paris as it is likely just a matter of time for an attack here to get through.

h I agree VocationaGoat. I'm sure there are far more planned than actual attacks, but I think it's unlikely that UK and Germany are so much better equipped to deal with them than France.

This thread has reminded me of part of the IRA statement over the Brighton bombing in 1984 -

"Today we were unlucky, but remember, we only have to be lucky once; you will have to be lucky always."

I don't believe France is being particularly targeted, no more than any other country. 'Luck' is random, humans look for patterns in the chaos, we try to find reason in everything.

They were talking about this on the Today programme. Apparently France is generally more respectful of privacy (fewer CCTVs, etc) and it was implied had a less fearful approach generally. Apparently the evacuation of the German team yesterday was hardly picked up by the media, for example. I don't know how this compares to other mainland European cities though.

Interestingly I was in Morocco earlier this year and several people there commented that France was seen to be weak, not strong, not hardline enough, etc. Very different perspective, we were quite surprised at the time.

I believe it's the ghettoisation of Algerian immigrants in the banlieues (housing estates) around the outer edge of Paris. Insular communities, poor, hostile to law enforcement: ideal for both radicalisation and concealment of weapons.

I agree mephi.
There is a far more tangible undercurrent of unrest and intolerance as well.

There was an interesting interview with a woman from Paris who now lives in London on BBC news.

She said that she feels there is a big difference between London and Paris, in that the buildings in London are more protected, and the French are very protective over their privacy. So where someone would readily report suspicious activity in the UK, in France they are far less likely to do so. She also said that there are far fewer surveillance cameras in Paris than in London.

Interesting insight. Personally, I'm amazed this hasn't happened in the UK yet, but perhaps this gives us an idea of why it hasn't?

Why France? I don't know, but I really feel for them.

Spanish police have foiled several potential attacks just this year.
In April 11 people were arrested who apparently were going to target a Barcelona hotel, Barcelona House of Parliament and film the beheading of a female bank worker. Also one of the arrested planned an attack on a Jewish book shop.
In August 14 yihadists were arrested with close cooperation between Spanish and Moroccan police.
They were planning attacks in northen Africa and Spain. Police have arrested 60 yihadists in Spain this year and colaborated with Moroccan police to arrest 27 in northen Africa.
Last month another 3 were arrested. They were planning an imminent attack in Madrid.
18 people were killed in 1985 in a Madrid restaurant.
March 2004 there were 191 casualties and over 2000 injured in Madrid.

Four armed individuals have jumped a police control in France.
No details yet

I asked my DP the same thing this morning and his thoughts were that they have a long standing immigration problem where there were an awful lot of disenfranchised young men who were very angry at the inequality of the country. Add to that the hard line they have taken against some elements of Muslim culture and the open borders and I guess they are an easy target.

I honestly think Europe will close it's borders but it's probably too late now really.

Where have you seen that numberseven?

Mephis you are right, they are just reporting (BBC) an attack now in the banlieuses.
We have been attacked 7/7

mobile.twitter.com/michaelh992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

[winkle] Spanish tv, but no details.
They were reporting that IS has reinvindicated the attack and that the terrorist who immolated himself near the stadium was Syrian.

My friend was just saying over lunch that it's the refugees who will suffer most. Borders will have to be closed for political reasons, even if it is too late to make a difference to the terrorist threat

My experience of France is that there is much less tolerance/inclusion of ethnic and religious minorities and therefore the ground is more fertile for the disaffected and ostracised to be groomed for terrorism.

JumpandScore

'it's the refugees who will suffer most'

No, it really isn't.

Not now, no. But it will make a massive difference to them in bigger numbers than anone else long yerm