France - Explosions and shooting in Paris, 13 November 2015 #2

[cuffem]

insight into one of the three brothers, one who blew himself up here, by the ex-wife

Not especially religious family, not close. "Modern" mother.
Divorced parents. Unemployment and pointless existence perhaps smoking weed all day long - says ex-wife
Previous teenage delinquency - so some characteristic hallmarks there too.

worth a read though

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...h-say-blew-mistake-fiddling-suicide-vest.html

I would like to give some observations from the time I spend in Belgium but I am not sure what I can say or what may offend someone or get in trouble with the mods.I have been wanting to post but my posts were getting deleted in the beginning of this thread.

 

[FindHG]

Wembley, pre game

View attachment 84507

http://www.france24.com/en/

 

[bluesneakers]

The Grand Plaza In Brussels has always been a concern for me and I have said this before.It is a big open area with hundreds of tourists lingering about.There are only 4 narrow exist and it is always so crowded it is hard to get in and out.We go through there quikly to get to my favorite restaurant,The House of Crepes.
I will be leaving for Belgium very soon and will report back.
I have always been nervous in Brussels the past 8 years and we keep a low profile and do not speak english to each other.I used to love taking the trains but this last trip after the train incident made me uneasy.

I just realized you may meant the US.

Mostly in the US or Canada because that's what I'm familiar with - Grand Central, Parliament Hill, anywhere near the Mall during a President's Inauguration - but I've been to a few places in Europe too. There were no checkpoints when I went to Oktoberfest in Munich, the Piazza San Marco was wide open and packed with tourists, etc. There are just so many vulnerable spots.

Odds are nothing will happen though! Try to focus on getting the most out of your trip.

Enjoy your crepes and please report back. I'm sure you'll be fine. :grouphug:

eta: I'm worried now the first part of my comment might add to your uneasiness, but I assume you've thought about this all already. I hope I didn't make it worse.

 

[cottonweaver]

No idea why they are evacuating the German football game in Hanover - anyone ?

Hope it's not some idiot calling in a bomb hoax!

ETA due to a suspicious suitcase found! Being rightfully cautious.
Hope they have not been allowing supporters in with their luggage.

 

[md89]

The Germany-Holland soccer game has been cancelled. The stadium is being evacuated at the moment.

Edit: According to the Guardian they found a suspicious suitcase inside the stadium. Okay...who in their right mind takes a suitcase to a soccer game? Especially now?

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/nov/17/germany-holland-friendly-suspicious-suitcase?CMP=twt_gu?CMP=twt_gu

 

[Gigi-G]

The thing is we have let these people in with welcome arms. Over the last few years Europe has opened its borders to fleeing refugees. A lot from Syria.
I believe it's called a wolf in sheep's clothing.
Mingling with nationals. Would you know if the person sat next to you on the bus had a suicide vest on under his jacket?
We cannot be complacent any more. We must use of instincts our eyes our ears.
Be aware of your surroundings. Mostly be alert. .
What happened in Paris has shocked the world. Paris is such a vibrant beautiful city. Steeped in history. We cannot allow these brutal cowards take from us which belongs to us all.... democracy.
Thinking of you all in Paris. My ♡ pains for your loss. Stay brave stay safe.

 

[bluesneakers]

No threats found after passengers questioned on plane at BWI

The four people removed Tuesday morning from a Spirit Airlines flight from BWI to Chicago amid concerns about a threat were released without charges after being questioned, Maryland Transportation Authority police said.

Officers removed three men and one woman from the flight, Green said. He said the passengers who were questioned were a married couple, who were traveling with another family member. A fourth male passenger who was questioned was sitting near them.

Mike England, a spokesman with the Transportation Security Administration, said TSA personnel rescreened all the baggage on the flight including the bags of the four passengers who were pulled off.

"No threat was found," he said in a statement.

A passenger reported suspicious activity to the flight crew, which turned out to be a person watching a media report on their smart phone

Can't say I'm surprised.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-ar-bwi-flight-delayed-20151117-story.html

 

[cottonweaver]

Is Molenbeek Europe’s jihadi central?

http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...eek-jihadi-isis-belgian-paris-attacks-belgium

 

[SophieRose]

Thanks for link Isabelle.
snipped from link

The majority of them are in the New Orleans area, but one came to Baton Rouge. WBRZ has learned Catholic Charities helped the refugee who settled in Baton Rouge, but said the immigrant left for another state after a couple of days, and they don't know where the refugee went since they don't track them.

bbm

http://theadvocate.com/news/14012129-172/catholic-charities-one-syrian-immigrant

Catholic Charities officials said the man who emigrated from Syria to Baton Rouge was by himself, and that he came during the summer. He only stayed for a few days before leaving to meet with family in another state.

Catholic Charities officials also said they know where he went and why he left, and he is not missing. But they said they are not releasing information about where he went.

 

[Momoffourboys]

insight into one of the three brothers, one who blew himself up here, by the ex-wife

Not especially religious family, not close. "Modern" mother.
Divorced parents. Unemployment and pointless existence perhaps smoking weed all day long - says ex-wife
Previous teenage delinquency - so some characteristic hallmarks there too.

worth a read though

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...h-say-blew-mistake-fiddling-suicide-vest.html

The attackers are usually not religious at all. If they were, they would know what BS their "cause" is and goes against every religion...theirs included. Idiots.

 

[Bravo]

British Airways enroute to Boston from London just landed. Unruly passenger restrained in flight. Landed and requested LE await their arrival. Getting conflicting reports as to what door exactly passenger rushed. One states cockpit, other says an exit door. Per CNN so no link.

 

[Gigi-G]

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...eedom-day-poignant-message.html#ixzz3rllJozE3
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

So heartbreaking

 

[cottonweaver]

Meanwhile a 10,000 strong crowd have gathered in support of Paris chanting

"Paris Paris, Toulouse is with you"

 

[Momoffourboys]

I will just say that anyone minizing the threat, the anxiety or the fear of the situation. Saying we should go on about our lives and not let these attacks change who we are and how we think....has never been under a direct threat of terrorism.

Their children have never been under lockdown in kindergarten.

It is a game changer. I assure you.

 

[FLmom777]

Boston now has a British Airlines jet with an unruly passenger.

 

[cottonweaver]

Football fans' comments as they go into Wembley for the French England match tonight, on why they have come

Owen Gibson, of this parish, has been talking to some of the England fans streaming into Wembley. William Thomas, 24, who has travelled from Sheffield wearing a red Steven Gerrard England shirt and carrying a Tricolor in his back pocket, said it was important for the match to go ahead.

“It’s definitely the right thing to do. I want England to win but if they lose I won’t be disappointed. I’ll try my best with La Marseillaise, French wasn’t my best subject at school. For someone who doesn’t support football it’s hard to understand but there is a bond between fans. They try and try to drive us apart but the more they [terrorists] do it, the closer we get. We’re all human – atheist, Muslim, Christian, it doesn’t matter.”

Steve Trice from Lincolnshire is equally defiant: “You don’t give in do you? You don’t give in to these people. Presumably what they want is for us to go home and shut our doors and hide under the bed or something like that. We’re not going to do it. Once the game kicks off, I hope it’s just like a normal game. That will be sticking two fingers up to them.”

http://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2015/nov/17/england-france-international-friendly-live

 

[FLmom777]

We did have drills in school when I was little. The US was worried about nuclear attacks from the USSR. Everybody got under their desks and covered their heads with their arms. That would have been so worthless but I guess it made folks think something was being done.

 

[Momoffourboys]

We did have drills in school when I was little. The US was worried about nuclear attacks from the USSR. Everybody got under their desks and covered their heads with their arms. That would have been so worthless but I guess it made folks think something was being done.

It's a farce. Noone is ever prepared for terror.
You don't get a warning. It just happens. It's quick.
On 9/11 by the time most knew what was going on...thousands had perished.

 

[Elley Mae]

We did have drills in school when I was little. The US was worried about nuclear attacks from the USSR. Everybody got under their desks and covered their heads with their arms. That would have been so worthless but I guess it made folks think something was being done.

We had fallout shelters in the basement part and even had rations.

 

[skibaboo]

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