UK - Gunshots fired outside houses of parliament in London. 22 Mar 2017

[AzPistonsGirl]

respectfully, please... rugs are oriental, people are Asian.

 

[dotr]

It is indeed true. Statistically, I believe around 2,000 Met Police (London) officers are routinely armed with firearms (around 5-6%), and around 5% with tasers, although this may have increased. It is worth mentioning that around Westminster/Parliament, it is far more likely (in my experience) to see armed officers.

I don't have any new information to add. I am posting purely because this is a place very close to my heart - up until November I worked in a government department in Westminster, so this is very close to home. I adore Westminster, I would very often go up to London early purely to walk around, enjoy the sights and take photos, and working right beside Scotland Yard, I loved being by the police and seeing them patrol.

All I can say is that thoughts are with the family, friends and colleague of the unarmed officer who died doing his job, with the other innocent victims of a pointless attack, and with every single officer in this country who ultimately put their lives at risk for people on a daily basis.

Welcome to Ws Livness, thanks for your informative post and lovely sentiment about those heros who put their lives on the line every day!
:Welcome1:

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Has there been any recent updates on those who were injured today?

My heart is broken for the innocent people who lost their lives today, and for those who are injured with the doctor saying some of them have very severe injuries.

Have they said how many were children?

 

[CoverMeCagney]

Police have confirmed that they believe that they know who the perpetrator is. Understandably they are not releasing the details at this stage.

1 Police officer & 3 members of the public deceased.

40 injured. A number seem to be international tourists.

Bit in bold - see, this pisses me right off, that people come to visit our country and don't get to go home safely. Those kiddies and other tourists will have been walking towards Big Ben, arguably one of London's most famous and recognisable landmarks, full of excitement and wonder in a beautiful, historical and renowned part of the city... and this happens.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Police have confirmed that they believe that they know who the perpetrator is. Understandably they are not releasing the details at this stage.

1 Police officer & 3 members of the public deceased.

40 injured. A number seem to be international tourists.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-39355505

OMG! 40 injured? I had only seen the number of those who were injured as being 20.

Thanks for the update. What a sad and very tragic day.

 

[Ray_of_hope]

respectfully, please... rugs are oriental, people are Asian.

Well now I've learned something else. I always used Orient as a description of the East. Had no idea. Thanks.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112465167

 

[DeDee]

[video=twitter;844678933303955456]https://twitter.com/FoxNews/status/844678933303955456[/video]

 

[lizziginne]

Police officer killed named as Keith Palmer, 48.
BBC


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[oceanblueeyes]

Bit in bold - see, this pisses me right off, that people come to visit our country and don't get to go home safely. Those kiddies and other tourists will have been walking towards Big Ben, arguably one of London's most famous and recognisable landmarks, full of excitement and wonder in a beautiful, historical and renowned part of the city... and this happens.

It has become a terrible reality that no one in the free world is safe now no matter where they are. I just don't know how LE can predict the next terrorist who is going to use a 2500-3000 pound weapon to mow innocent people down. A lot of people don't even pay attention to what other people are doing in their vehicle.

It seems using cars and big trucks (80,000 pounds) is the new way to cause mass casualties.

It pains me that all of those on the bridge were just out enjoying the beautiful surroundings and had no idea what was going to happen. I am glad the one lady was able to jump off of the bridge. Even though she was hurt that may have saved her life.

It will be interesting to learn if this terrorist was ever on their radar.

IMO

 

[dotr]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/london-parliament-attack-1.4035964

British Prime Minister Theresa May is condemning the "sick and depraved terrorist attack" in London that left at least five people dead and 40 injured, saying the targeting of the attack was no accident.

One of the dead is a police officer. The attacker is also dead, shot by police. The three additional fatalities were civilians, police say.
In a late-night statement outside her Downing Street office Wednesday, a defiant May said the nation will not give in to terror and those who targeted the seat of power in Britain.

May said "we will all move forward together, never giving in to terror and never allowing the voices of hate and evil to drive us apart."

 

[bluesneakers]

Right. I don't know if this helps or not, but I do have a lot of online friends from the US and this topic has come up before. The conclusion was what we in the UK refer to as Asian, my friends in the US refer to Persian. I'm not sure how accurate that is but it was the general consensus between my US (Non WS) friends.

Persians are Iranian. They're not Asians or Arabs.

 

[oceanblueeyes]

This might help you understand better, gun deaths (highlighted in dark green) are pretty rare here compared to the US.That said, I agree that police officers stationed around our national "targets" should carry guns.

View attachment 113337

What about violent crimes or attacks involving knives?

I just wish the fallen officer who was stabbed to death had a firearm to defend himself.

 

[Eloise]

It has become a terrible reality that no one in the free world is safe now no matter where they are. I just don't know how LE can predict the next terrorist who is going to use a 2500-3000 pound weapon to mow innocent people down. A lot of people don't even pay attention to what other people are doing in their vehicle.

It seems using cars and big trucks (80,000 pounds) is the new way to cause mass casualties.

It pains me that all of those on the bridge were just out enjoying the beautiful surroundings and had no idea what was going to happen. I am glad the one lady was able to jump off of the bridge. Even though she was hurt that may have saved her life.

It will be interesting to learn if this terrorist was ever on their radar.

IMO

And they don't need to be 'terrorists' or ideologically motivated to do it either. See the Bourke St car attack by a standard everyday criminal in Melbourne last (?) month.

 

[CoverMeCagney]

What about violent crimes or attacks involving knives?

I just wish the fallen officer who was stabbed to death had a firearm to defend himself.

Yep, we definitely have more of a knife problem. And yes, today I wish he'd had a gun too

 

[dotr]

Please let these children survive, my heart goes out to each and every victim, the ones that received physical wounds and everyone who bore witness to to this ungodly horror, imo.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...-french-school-children-feared-among-victims/

Westminster attack: French school children in critical condition after being hit by killer's car

Three school children on a trip from France are among the injured in the London terror attack, their teacher has told The Telegraph. Two of them are believed to be in a critical condition.

The teenage children were walking along Westminster Bridge when they were hit by the speeding Hydundai car, travelling at up to 50 miles per hour.
The group’s teacher said: “Three of us were hit, we don’t know if they are dead or not. I cannot speak anymore, I don’t know what to say.”

Two of the three pupils are in a "critical condition" and the third is in the operating theatre, according to parents who spoke to local media in Brittany.

 

[AzPistonsGirl]

Persians are Iranian. They're not Asians or Arabs.

but technically, Iran is in Asia, so Asian in a much larger sense, no? (I admit, geography is not my forte and I am learning here as well.) IMO Persian is also regional here in the US - meaning, for example, in areas like Dearborn, Michigan, "Persian" is heard and used frequently. Out here in Arizona, I rarely hear the descriptor "Persian" used.

 

[CoolJ]

Yep, we definitely have more of a knife problem. And yes, today I wish he'd had a gun too

But imagine if the perp had easy access to firearms.

Having said that, in a city the size of London, it is surprising all LE are not armed.

 

[skibaboo]

Persians are Iranian. They're not Asians or Arabs.

So that makes no sense at all then?

Personally I'd call an Iranian an Iranian, an Indian and Indian, someone from Japan, Japanese. Avoids all kinds of confusion and awkwardness.

 

[dotr]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/201...cheer-westminster-attack-revenge-british-air/

Isil supporters cheer Westminster attack as 'revenge' for British air strikes on Syria

Isil supporters have cheered the attack on Westminster, suggesting it was “revenge” for the UK’s airstrikes on the terror group in Syria and Iraq.

Followers on pro-Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant channels on the social media service Telegram posted messages applauding the knife-wielding suspect and called the attack “blessed”.

At the time of writing, however, there was no official claim of responsibility. Attacks organised and inspired by Isil are usually not claimed within the first 24 hours.
Motivations of the attacker are not yet known, but the use of a vehicle as well as a knife are consistent with instructions for attacks issued by Isil and are similar to the group’s attack on a Christmas market in Berlin and in Nice, which left more than 80 dead.

rbbm.

 

[bluesneakers]

but technically, Iran is in Asia, so Asian in a much larger sense, no? (I admit, geography is not my forte and I am learning here as well.) IMO Persian is also regional here in the US - meaning, for example, in areas like Dearborn, Michigan, "Persian" is heard and used frequently. Out here in Arizona, I rarely hear the descriptor "Persian" used.

Persian is used when talking about Persians/Iranians. I've never heard anyone refer to a Persian as an Asian. I suppose yes, Iran is located in Asia but... well, I would never call my Iranian friend's Asian.

So in Arizona how do you refer to someone who is Iranian?