A terrorist group linked to al Qaeda has claimed responsibilty for a series of terror attacks on London. Two London hospitals have reported a total of 185 wounded after a series of blasts hit locations across the city on buses and Tube stations.
The timing, after the announcement of London hosting the 2012 Olympics, has to play a part.
The sheltered life I led as a child isn't one anyone child growing up can ever know. All around is evidence of what hatred and extremism compels people to do.
The links are to Sky News which is constantly updating.
UPDATE: The TV is shut off. Didn't take long for American coverage of this terrible event to turn back to itself. The security level has been raised to a targeted orange! and blah, blah, blah, us,us,us. The damned British 'stiff upper lip' line has been uttered because of the way Londoners are handling the affair, which is with strength and dignity.
News channels in America have brought in experts from all over and are comparing today to 9/11.
"The timing, after the announcement of London hosting the 2012 Olympics, has to play a part."
ReplyDeleteTo be fair, that's highly unlikely as it was only announced yesterday and while this thing wasn't especially complicated, it would've needed more than 24 hours to set up, I suspect.
More likely it was due to time with the start of the G8 summit.
I was amazed at how quickly Blair got down to London. And the police handle everything in a very organized and effective manner.
ReplyDeleteWhy Bush felt the need to return to America, I've no idea.
Can’t be evolution: it’s the fuckwits that blow up the normal folk. Evolution would be the other way round.
ReplyDeleteHi Jen,
ReplyDeleteIt's been a Shitty Day, I posted this on rec.arts.mystery, but your blog post is apt.
After the Euphoria in London after we won the Olympic Bid.
What a shitty day.
I was lucky, I guess, as there was a CWA Bash last night in London, and
I had planned to go, but rang Mike Stotter [Shots Ed] in the afternoon
to make my apologies as I had to take some customers to dinner - hence
I didn't make it into town - Normally I stay over in [The City of]
London even though I reside about an hour north of London during the
week.
I spoke to Mike this morning when I heared of the terrible events,
fearful as Mike Stotter takes a train to Liverpool Street in the
mornings - and he is my friend. Mike had major problems getting into
work as the trains were all affected, but he was OK, and later I heard
that Ayo, Thalia, Myles, Liz and everyone I knew were OK - The problem
was that I only had mobiles numbers and the mobile phone network was
off.
The day has had a dark cloud over it. The only rays of light were [a]
hearing that my friends were not hurt by this horrific and disgusting
outrage, and [b] receiving a wonderful email from Mary Regan. I met
Mary last Friday at Crimescene London, where she was taking pix for
Crimespree. I had been granted an exclusive interview [for
www.januarymagazine.com] with the thriller grandmaster Robert Littell
on a rare visit to the UK from France. I was lucky to spend the
afternoon with Robert and his publisher the legendary Peter Mayer and
what an experience I had. I recorded 90 mins of tremendous insight from
the man wrote the amazing work THE COMPANY - One of my all time
favourite books. Over the course of the interview, Robert outlined in
detail the failures of the intelligence community in tacking this
horrific, barbaric and sinster threat that we face today - poignant
indeed considering todays turn of events.
When I thought the day could not get any worse, I heard that Ed McBain
died.
What a shitty day indeed, and then the wonderful Mary Regan sent me an
email with a wonderful .jpg photograph she took of Robert Littell and I
last Friday, which made the sun shine a little brighter, as did the
words of the folk at RAM and 4-MA and then I realised that as horrific
as the day has been, there are some wonderfully thoughful people out in
the world; people who care, people who I care about - and we must all
remember that we outnumber the evil ones who wish to do us harm and
destroy our way of life.
I've had a wonderful stream of emails and calls today - thank you all.
I think the one email that really struck home was from the hugely
talented thriller writer David Morrell - I had emailed him earlier this
morning about my meeting with Robert Littell, and I mentioned about the
terrible day in London [because, well it is a disaster]. David had not
received a newspaper in the morning, nor had he put on the radio or TV,
but was checking his email as he got up, and my email made him put on
the TV and watch in horror at what was unfolding in London. His words
were very reassuring, because as you may know his work has been a
constant in my life.
So my prayers for the ones affected and also my best wishes to Ed
McBain [may you rest in peace] and his family - His work has brought
much joy to my world.
It has indeed been a very shitty day, made bearable by the people I
know and love.
Ali
www.shotsmag.co.uk
Yes Terrible Day
ReplyDeleteI've heard from most people I know and Ali has helped a long way in that regard. Honestly, I was in tears when I first heard. It makes me wonder which country is next... who is going to be hurt, maimed or killed.
ReplyDeleteReally cherish the people you have.