How much danger are other UK cities in?

[AnnaInManchester]

Should we ppl in other UK cities stay out of the city centre for a few days? I live in the suburbs of Manchester and have been told to stay out of the centre of Mcr because that could be as risk too.

It is so scary and I really hope everyone and all the Mumsnetters in London are ok.

I think it is normal to have other cities, airports and Govt Institutions etc go onto a higher state of alert, even without specific intelligence.

think its fine to come to London for the weekend but public transport will be in a mess so will be harder to get around unless you are walking everywhere!

Has anyone actually been to manchester today? Just wondering if the police presence is greater than usual?

A friend of mine has been shopping in the trafford centre today and did not notice any more police presence than usual.

I can assure you that the TC is always under strict surveillance - you just can't see it!

I know that when the Arndale Centre was bombed Birmingham was put on Red Alert. I worked for the ICC at the time so I imagine the same measures are in place. Lots of bag searches etc.

I remember the strict security for the G8 in 1998. A device was found in the car park of a factory in between where I was working and Birmingham airport. It never made the news so there is always a lot going on behind the scenes I reckon. It was the day before Clinton was flying in to the airport iirc.

Still don't know what to do about this weekend. BBC news still saying generally "life as normal, but only come into central london if you need to be here". American Embassy is advising US tourists not to go into Central London if not necessary...

I feel distinctly vulnerable sitting on the edge of one of the biggest Petrochemical Plants in Europe.
There are rumours of Anarchist Protesters coming here today.... not exactly Al Queda, but worrying nevertheless.

I would say with the G8 going on that Edinburgh being a target is a distinct possibility.

But TBH I think they have made their point in the UK and will most probably move on to another country they have threatened.

that's what we thought in spain but then the bastards blew themselves up in a flat when the police found out they were planning more attacks,i really do hope there's no more attacks in uk
or anywhere else

Im not sure whether you should go or not Georgina A. Maybe contact the london tourist information centre and see what they have to say.

Well I have to say, Red Letter Days are fab and if anyone wants gifts for people, use them they're great.

Just spoken to them on the phone and they've said that public transport is almost back to normal, that the theatre trips are still going ahead, but if we did want to cancel (even up to the last minute if we're having trouble getting in) then they would cover that and we needn't worry about losing out. So unless there's an announcement to say no unnecessary visits over the weekend then we're going to go anyway.

Sounds like there's been a fab job done overnight getting things back as close to "normality" as possible.

Have to say that I find it curiously reassuring, as far as British security/intelligence goes, that yesterday wasn't much much worse.

(Hope that isn't naive )

No, I feel the same, janh.

I live in a small town, but because it has a bigger DRA centre than London it is supposedly the 2nd most likely place to be a target for terrorists.

We had a G8 summit meeting here in Sheffield a couple of weeks ago. There was a massive police presence at the time. Living right in the city it did concern me a little, but I refuse to keep changing the way I live and go about my nomral days in case. We must not give in to them.

I don't think you should avoid city centres. If there is going to be a terrorist attack it will be when you least expect it. After 9/11 I hated going into Canary Wharf for meetings as I was convinced that a plane was going to go into the side of the building. However, I have to admit that the last couple of months I have not given it much thought and become complacent and then yesterday happens.

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