BREAKING NEWS

[gfwgfw]

All oh so sad

[david63]

I see Daesch have claimed 'responsibility'. How noble of a group which thinks it is acceptable to blow up innocent children. I know what I would like to do to them once caught but it is against the law.

Put them in a room with the mothers of those children?

[Mervyn and Trish]

Not, for a moment, suggesting that the parents were to blame Spuddy but I was just surprised at the age of some of the children allowed to go to the concert unaccompanied.

Nor was I blaming parents in any way for the atrocity. Nor saying it is wrong to take young children to concerts. Nor trying to diminish the awfulness of what happened.

But reports make clear that many young ones at the concert were alone and that contributed to the chaos and distress which ensued after the attack. That is what I believe is irresponsible.

[Manoverboard]

Not, for a moment, suggesting that the parents were to blame Spuddy but I was just surprised at the age of some of the children allowed to go to the concert unaccompanied.

Nor was I blaming parents in any way for the atrocity. Nor saying it is wrong to take young children to concerts. Nor trying to diminish the awfulness of what happened.

But reports make clear that many young ones at the concert were alone and that contributed to the chaos and distress which ensued after the attack. That is what I believe is irresponsible.

It cannot be that unusual to drop off a 14 year old and their chums at the doors of a concert venue, and then to round them up again at an agreed time later in the evening. Many of the youngsters would die of shame if they had to be accompanied to a concert by Mummy and Daddy ... surely.

We used to do this at various venues in Manchester while ours were in their teens. Irresponsible, no, we didn't think so.

[Mervyn and Trish]

I think reports are suggesting some younger than that Moby. But I accept all parents must make their own decisions

[Manoverboard]

It seems that the 22 year old bomber was born in Manchester ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40020168

[oldbluefox]

Am I wrong in getting a little fed up with, (as in this instance), taking in refugees from troubled lands, providing them with safety and security, a home and welfare only for them or their offspring to feed the hand that fed them. Not for the first time these radicals have come into a country, they basically despise, because it's a better bet than the country they have left.
If we intervene in the middle east we are wrong. We are wrong if we don't intervene. In the meantime the middle east is a breeding ground for terrorists.
I have no problem with immigrants or refugees coming into our country but only on the understanding they accept our culture, our way of life and they make every attempt to integrate into our society. To a great extent this has not happened.
Off now to get my political correctness tablet...................

[Mervyn and Trish]

I did read somewhere that our policy of handing out overseas aid, which is conceived by some as winning friends and influencing people, can have the opposite effect of being offensive and patronising.

But the trouble is it doesn't actually matter what we do. The terrorists are not reasonable people. Who could even remotely consider it reasonable to target young children for example? So normal logic doesn't apply.

But back to you point Foxy, there's a bloke called Nigel who'd like to buy you a pint......

[Stephen]

Am I wrong in getting a little fed up with, (as in this instance), taking in refugees from troubled lands, providing them with safety and security, a home and welfare only for them or their offspring to feed the hand that fed them. Not for the first time these radicals have come into a country, they basically despise, because it's a better bet than the country they have left.
If we intervene in the middle east we are wrong. We are wrong if we don't intervene. In the meantime the middle east is a breeding ground for terrorists.
I have no problem with immigrants or refugees coming into our country but only on the understanding they accept our culture, our way of life and they make every attempt to integrate into our society. To a great extent this has not happened.
Off now to get my political correctness tablet...................

[qbman1]

Anyone else think the media are milking this a bit ? Yes, I know it's a serious and important event but the constant analysis of the bomb, bomber/family and even worse, the victims cannot be tolerable for the families of the dead and injured and anyone affected by the atrocity. I'm not suggesting we forget about it or sweep it under the carpet but devoting entire radio and tv shows to it plus 16 page features in the newspapers just cannot be right.

[oldbluefox]

You can always rely on the media to go totally OTT on events such as this whether it be a tragedy or a celebrity dying.
I can't help feeling they like to stir up hysteria where they can and look for the dramatic. None of this helps the situation and has more to do with reaction than actual news. Particularly irritating are those moments when they push a microphone under a victim's nose and ask a stupid question like 'How did you fell when x happened?' How do they expect them to feel?

[qbman1]

Next thing to look forward to - they'll all be trying to make political capital out of it when election campaigning resumes !

[qbman1]

You can always rely on the media to go totally OTT on events such as this whether it be a tragedy or a celebrity dying.
I can't help feeling they like to stir up hysteria where they can and look for the dramatic. None of this helps the situation and has more to do with reaction than actual news. Particularly irritating are those moments when they push a microphone under a victim's nose and ask a stupid question like 'How did you fell when x happened?' How do they expect them to feel?

What I said......

"Watch a special edition of ITV Tonight on the Manchester attack, tonight at 7.30pm on ITV"

[qbman1]

Call me a cynic and I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I do wonder how much of this high-profile armed police and military presence is politically motivated? Government wanting to be seen to react strongly to the terror threat?

[Stephen]

Anyone else think the media are milking this a bit ? Yes, I know it's a serious and important event but the constant analysis of the bomb, bomber/family and even worse, the victims cannot be tolerable for the families of the dead and injured and anyone affected by the atrocity. I'm not suggesting we forget about it or sweep it under the carpet but devoting entire radio and tv shows to it plus 16 page features in the newspapers just cannot be right.

I thought the same on day two. They all go over and over the same stuff.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Call me a cynic and I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I do wonder how much of this high-profile armed police and military presence is politically motivated? Government wanting to be seen to react strongly to the terror threat?

You're a cynic. I agree about the media stuff but I assume the intelligence services and police know a lot more than they're telling us and the police and military response will be based on that rather than politics

[Stephen]

Just watching the queen on the evening news visiting people in hospital. Normally she's so together with her clothes....but that hat!!

[screwy]

Next thing to look forward to - they'll all be trying to make political capital out of it when election campaigning resumes !

It already has, Ukip's leader Paul whatever made a statement blaming Mrs M for Cuts to Police, also a lot of comments on social media from Lefties regarding lack of police and thats why the Army are on the streets....may well have a point.?

[Dancing Queen]

Call me a cynic and I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I do wonder how much of this high-profile armed police and military presence is politically motivated? Government wanting to be seen to react strongly to the terror threat?

You're a cynic. I agree about the media stuff but I assume the intelligence services and police know a lot more than they're telling us and the police and military response will be based on that rather than politics

I don't doubt the intelligence services know far more than they are telling us but I do agree with cubie to a degree, high profile police and military presence .. why now ?? oh yes there is an election in 2 weeks time all credit to the security services to protect London ie: Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament but what are they doing to protect the hundreds of thousands of people who don't reside in the South, I can't say I noticed any extra policing ( let alone military ) in our town yesterday and yet 20 miles to the East and West are cities which have a huge Muslim communities .. not to mention Manchester which is just the other side of the Pennines.

I can't wait for the local candidates to knock on my door after my support so I can ask them what support they will be giving me .. I won't be holding my breath

[Dancing Queen]

Just watching the queen on the evening news visiting people in hospital. Normally she's so together with her clothes....but that hat!!

Saw it too Stephen .. the hat was definitely a no no

No disrespect to the Queen as I think she is wonderful but there was absolutely no 'connection' I think this is one occasion when one of the younger royals would have been better placed to make the visit, I'm sure the families affected appreciated it though.

[Stephen]

Just watching the queen on the evening news visiting people in hospital. Normally she's so together with her clothes....but that hat!!

Saw it too Stephen .. the hat was definitely a no no

No disrespect to the Queen as I think she is wonderful but there was absolutely no 'connection' I think this is one occasion when one of the younger royals would have been better placed to make the visit, I'm sure the families affected appreciated it though.

Agree

[wolfie]

Well, there were armed police here in our little town yesterday and they weren't policing the local site of scientific interest and protecting the bird life at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre, that's for sure!!!

[Kenmo1]

Our bags were searched at Osborne House today. Not known that happen before. I don't mind any delays caused by new security checks if it stops these evil people and I have no objection to armed police/soldiers on the streets during these difficult times.

Maureen

[Mervyn and Trish]

Call me a cynic and I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I do wonder how much of this high-profile armed police and military presence is politically motivated? Government wanting to be seen to react strongly to the terror threat?

You're a cynic. I agree about the media stuff but I assume the intelligence services and police know a lot more than they're telling us and the police and military response will be based on that rather than politics

I don't doubt the intelligence services know far more than they are telling us but I do agree with cubie to a degree, high profile police and military presence .. why now ??

Why? Surely because 22 people just died and the bomb maker is still out there somewhere maybe with another bomb and another martyr lined up.

[wolfie]

Call me a cynic and I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I do wonder how much of this high-profile armed police and military presence is politically motivated? Government wanting to be seen to react strongly to the terror threat?

You're a cynic. I agree about the media stuff but I assume the intelligence services and police know a lot more than they're telling us and the police and military response will be based on that rather than politics

I don't doubt the intelligence services know far more than they are telling us but I do agree with cubie to a degree, high profile police and military presence .. why now ??

Why? Surely because 22 people just died and the bomb maker is still out there somewhere maybe with another bomb and another martyr lined up.

Well said.