Manchester Arena Incident (22/05/2017)

[Bletchleyite]

ISIS have claimed this latest atrocity is their work.

ISIS is of course not a coordinated organisation in the manner that Al Qaeda is/was, so it can claim what it likes.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Didn't know the Maccies had closed. Perhaps lower footfall due to people not being able to go straight from the platforms to there any more?

 

[weastebusdepot]

Didn't know the Maccies had closed. Perhaps lower footfall due to people not being able to go straight from the platforms to there any more?

It closed in January I think without any warning even to the people who work there. A bit of a pain since there isn't anything similar nearby for train crew and station staff.

 

[KN1]

ISIS is of course not a coordinated organisation in the manner that Al Qaeda is/was, so it can claim what it likes.

I fully understand that, I was just repeating what had been on the tv.

 

[EM2]

ISIS have claimed this latest atrocity is their work.

IS have claimed responsibility according to the BBC

They'll claim responsibility for anything.

 

[BMIFlyer]

Manchester Victoria station will remain shut until further notice.

Confirmed - No services to operate tomorrow.

 

[Howardh]

Manchester Victoria station will remain shut until further notice.

Confirmed - No services to operate tomorrow.

I take it commuters season tickets will be accepted on trams, buses etc?
Q are there Bustitutions to Victoria (if so - where will the drop off if the station's cordoned off?) - extra services to Piccadilly from the north, and is the Chord work still continuing (ie can trains carrying stock get there if applicable)?

No doubt as the hospitals are trained up for emergencies, the rail companies will also have plans for various incidents.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Yes it is the box office concourse above P3/4 of MCV whefe McDonalds is/used to be. There are doors which lead direct onto the station overbridge from P3 to P4/5 and P6 as well as the door onto the long walkway above the MCV ticket barriers then down stairs onto the concourse opposite the station ticket office.

With the loss of McD's the chippy behind the printworks is seeing increased patronage (from me at least!)

 

[Bungle965]

A vigil is being held tonight in Albert Square (as seen in attached photo)
Sam

 

[Zoidberg]

Manchester Victoria station will remain shut until further notice.

Confirmed - No services to operate tomorrow.

Said to be closed up to 25th May at least

https://mobile.twitter.com/LeeRender/status/867042967965585411/photo/1

 

[J-2739]

I heard on the radio this afternoon, of a homeless man who went into the arena just after the explosion to comfort the injured.

#prayformanchester

 

[Antman]

I heard on the radio this afternoon, of a homeless man who went into the arena just after the explosion to comfort the injured.

#prayformanchester

That's one positive thing to come out of such an atrocity, hospitals were overwhelmed with people wanting to give blood, taxi drivers carrying people without charge and I'm sure there are a good many other examples as well.

 

[backontrack]

I'm very upset at this. I once lived 10 mins walk away from the arena, and walked through part of it from Trinity Way to Victoria station, to get my tram to Stretford where I worked.

All terrorist attacks are awful but this one targeted kids. What goes on in the heads of these people?

Unfortunately I think these terrorist attacks are now going to increase. I don't think we'll ever win the war on terror.

Very sad indeed.

As long as we don't give in, then we're winning.

 

[backontrack]

A third deceased victim has been named as John Atkinson, 26, from Radcliffe near Bury. The first male victim to be named, this disproves the earlier theory that all the dead are under 18.

 

[richw]

I heard on the radio this afternoon, of a homeless man who went into the arena just after the explosion to comfort the injured.

#prayformanchester

There is a video interview with him on BBC news shared on Facebook book, with comments offering him a room to live.

 

[northwichcat]

It's very worrying how many people are still missing. You don't suppose they were abducted, do you? It strikes me that a lot of people are still missing and yet only 22 have been confirmed dead. Where are they all?

Only 3 of those who have died have been named.

I imagine there could be an issue with seriously injured and killed teenagers not having any identification on them, so it's not possible to phone their parents saying we think your child might be in hospital x.

 

[backontrack]

The first victim, Georgina Callander, tweeted her excitement at attending Ariana's concert.



(replying to @ArianaGrande)
"SO EXCITED TO SEE U TOMORROW"

What's more, another tweet, now seemingly-deleted, read something like this:

"Im so excited to see u tomorrow @ArianaGrande, this is going to kill me".

I remember seeing it.

 

[DarloRich]

It's very worrying how many people are still missing. You don't suppose they were abducted, do you? It strikes me that a lot of people are still missing and yet only 22 have been confirmed dead. Where are they all?

No - might i suggest taking a step back and considering the situation in light of some of the eyewitness reports? They have graphically described the issues. Also people might have lost all ID or not been carrying any, may be unconscious or badly injured, they may have lost their clothes or their belongings etc etc

 

[backontrack]

There is a video interview with him on BBC news shared on Facebook book, with comments offering him a room to live.

Good to hear.

 

[AlterEgo]

The first victim, Georgina Callander, tweeted her excitement at attending Ariana's concert.

View attachment 32752

(replying to @ArianaGrande)
"SO EXCITED TO SEE U TOMORROW"

What's more, another tweet, now deleted, read something like this:

"Im so excited to see u tomorrow @ArianaGrande, this is going to kill me".

I remember seeing it.

Check "Tweets and Replies".

 

[LeylandLen]

Only 3 of those who have died have been named.

I imagine there could be an issue with seriously injured and killed teenagers not having any identification on them, so it's not possible to phone their parents saying we think your child might be in hospital x.

Of course. WE have no idea of what the bomb was made of or how big until told by GMP . We do know it was a suicide bomber ; I have seen reports of 'body parts ' . I guess many of the victims were small lightly built teenagers, who would not have much resistance to a bomb. Positive ID could be difficult.
Apparently they came from all over UK. 2 came from Island of Barra in the Hebrides , 1 in hospital , 1 still missing .Not a nice job clearing up after the carnage .

 

[me123]

This attack really has to be the lowest of the low. Targeting an event that will primarily attract children... the mind boggles. I think for the first time in my life I agree with Donald Trump - the perpetrator of this atrocity is an evil loser.

 

[Antman]

This attack really has to be the lowest of the low. Targeting an event that will primarily attract children... the mind boggles. I think for the first time in my life I agree with Donald Trump - the perpetrator of this atrocity is an evil loser.

Absolutely, takes terrorism to another level of depravity and those that escaped injury are likely to be severely traumatised.

 

[EM2]

PM Theresa May: UK terror threat level raised from severe to critical, which means further attack may be imminent

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40023488
The UK terror threat level has been raised to the highest level of "critical", meaning further attacks may be imminent, Theresa May has said.

The move came after investigators were unable to rule out Manchester bombing suspect Salman Abedi acted alone, the prime minister said.

Military personnel would now be deployed to protect key sites.

Military personnel may also be seen at other events, such as concerts, Mrs May said, and would work under the command of police officers.

Not the sort of thing that the Government will do willy-nilly.

 

[HSTEd]

And now she has called out the troops.

Which I am not entirely sure I like the idea of.
It is not as if troops can actually stop suicide bombers in a public place without Iraqi style checkpoints and stop and search all over the place.
At which point - we are effectively living in an armed camp and not a nation state.

 

[DarloRich]

PM Theresa May: UK terror threat level raised from severe to critical, which means further attack may be imminent
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-manchester-40007967

Not the sort of thing that the Government will do willy-nilly.

Quite - I wonder what they have found out? An active cell? a bomb maker? A support network? GCHA code word traffic activating more murderers? The decision is led by JTAC (Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre) so is intelligence based - they have found something as this isnt a standard step after an attack. It is the first time in 10 years we have reached this level.

And now she has called out the troops.

Which I am not entirely sure I like the idea of.
It is not as if troops can actually stop suicide bombers in a public place without Iraqi style checkpoints and stop and search all over the place.
At which point - we are effectively living in an armed camp and not a nation state.

it is Operation Tempora ( I assume) - it is a long standing plan to release armed police from static guard duty onto the streets at a time of increased risk/danger while the "army" (I assume special forces) guard key locations like Parliament and Buckingham Palace and provide visible deterrence at large scale events. It isnt the same as calling out the national guard or declaring martial law!

 

[AlterEgo]

I will keep an eye out tomorrow for army presence in London. Don't fancy their job much at the moment. I expect that given my work location near Parliament that there's an email I'm supposed to be picking up right now...

 

[All Line Rover]

it is Operation Tempora ( I assume)...

Yes, probably not Operation Tempura, although Tempora seems to be a word of many uses: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tempora.

EDIT: Actually it might well be called Operation Tempura! It also has an official history: https://www.gov.uk/government/world-location-news/release-of-documents-related-to-operation-tempura.

 

[AlterEgo]

It's Op TEMPERER.

 

[All Line Rover]

It's Op TEMPERER.

Thank you. What an odd name. "Temper" a threat?