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Deadly attacks in Paris / Brussels / Nice (07/14/2016)

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  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,271
    All members in the Brussels area and indeed everyone there are in my thoughts and prayers now. Civilians should not have to suffer these utterly cowardly attacks but alas that is the world we live in at this time. Keep safe and well.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,255
    @AceHole good to know you're safe! Didn't know you were from Brussels. Apparently there's some hashtags on twitter where people offer rides for those stuck in offices. One is #ikwilhelpen . good luck on getting home!
  • AceHoleAceHole Belgium, via Britain
    edited March 2016 Posts: 1,731
    CommanderRoss wrote: »
    @AceHole good to know you're safe! Didn't know you were from Brussels. Apparently there's some hashtags on twitter where people offer rides for those stuck in offices. One is #ikwilhelpen . good luck on getting home!

    Thx for the info @CommanderRoss. Yeah I'm in Brussels, am British but live in Belgium with my Belgian wife and our son, so obviously I am not pleased with this development... not sure U.K is a safe alternative anyway.
    Not too worried about myself, I'll find a way out of the city.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    Yes @AceHole, I was not aware you were in Brussels either. Glad to hear you're ok. Stay safe because this may not be over yet.
  • BondJasonBond006BondJasonBond006 on fb and ajb
    Posts: 9,020
    @bondjames

    Schengen will soon be gone, even the Swiss parliament is now discussing closing Swiss borders.

    I'm so worried where all this will lead us Europeans. Far-right political parties are on the rise everywhere, some governments already are in their hands (Poland, Hungary) and if you see what is happening there, democracy is in danger.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    edited March 2016 Posts: 15,716
    Brussels firemen reporting of 24 people seriously burnt in the metro bombing, so I fear the casualty number may rise even more.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    Posts: 23,883
    @BondJasonBond006, it is sad to hear this, but I think it's inevitable unless this radical threat is stopped or neutralized quickly.

    I certainly hope Schengen survives, because it is economically imperative for Europe that it does. The EU as a viable trading zone itself depends on low barriers to entry.

    Complex times and certainly very complex issues to be dealt with, with massive implications for people's overall well being and freedoms, as you correctly note.
  • patbpatb
    Posts: 4,615
    UKIP and Trump already releasing statements on this. I agree, the right are the obvious ones to gain BUT, in the eyes of many voters, at least they offer some form of solution (I am not agreeing with it), whilst others light up the Eiffel tower with lights. People want some form of action and the right seem to offer that whilst middle ground liberals offer plattudes and sound bites.
  • AceHoleAceHole Belgium, via Britain
    Posts: 1,731
    DaltonCraig007 wrote: »
    Brussels firemen reporting of 24 people seriously burnt in the metro bombing, so I fear the casualty number may rise even more.

    Yes,the critically injured toll is close to 30 now, so I fear the mortality nr will rise quite a bit.
    People are shell-shocked here. Trying to keep my colleagues calm and people have come in from the street to seek shelter in our buildings...
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,716
    Number of casualties has risen to 34.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited March 2016 Posts: 23,883
    The scenes I saw on the news of the mangled metro train were horrific. I can imagine,sadly, that several more were injured in that blast.
  • Creasy47Creasy47 In Cuba with Natalya.Moderator
    Posts: 40,968
    Woke up hours before I meant to get up with a weird feeling in my stomach, decided to hop on my phone to see what was going on in the world and was greeted with the developments going on in Brussels. May the victims RIP.
  • GoldenGunGoldenGun Per ora e per il momento che verrà
    Posts: 7,120
    Thanks for all the support. It's been the worst day in the history of our small country since WW II. We've been asked to stay inside. It's almost a war zone.
  • AceHoleAceHole Belgium, via Britain
    Posts: 1,731
    GoldenGun wrote: »
    Thanks for all the support. It's been the worst day in the history of our small country since WW II. We've been asked to stay inside. It's almost a war zone.

    Hope you & your loved ones are OK, @GoldenGun. I was stuck in a building in Bru untill 5pm, on way home now... still trying to get hold of two friends of ours who were at airport this morning.
    All quite a shock to the system.

    Verzorg uzelf / soigne toi bien
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,255
    Good to know you're ok @GoldenGun! And I hope you're friends are safe @AceHole! I understand many of the phone networks got overloaded.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Terrible news. All I heard on the radio was that the perpetrators in one of those scenes had shouted something in Arabic. Wonder what that could be about.
  • LudovicoLudovico
    Posts: 15,117
    @AceHole-Stay safe.

    I am sick and tired of this. What's going to be the excuse of the apologists this time?
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Ludovico wrote: »
    @AceHole-Stay safe.

    I am sick and tired of this. What's going to be the excuse of the apologists this time?

    That only 99 percent of terrorists are muslims.

    Oops, I mean only 1 percent of the population are soldiers.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    It's been an emotional day at school too. Though we're not too close to Brussels, the images, the news reports, ... all inflicted deep wounds on the troubled souls of our youngsters. I believe one of them lost a family member today though I haven't received confirmation yet. I just remember one of them in deep tears while holding her cell phone and with a flock of class mates surrounding her, all caring and hugging.

    Still, we will prevail.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,271
    Really sad to hear that, @DarthDimi. That must be a terrible thing to get the news of, especially for a child.
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    Fjck those terrorists.
  • jake24jake24 Sitting at your desk, kissing your lover, eating supper with your familyModerator
    Posts: 10,591
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    Fjck those terrorists.

    I couldn't have said it better myself.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    edited March 2016 Posts: 18,271
    Thunderfinger wrote: »
    Fjck those terrorists.

    I wish them all a very sticky end as well as every misfortune that can befall them.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    Hell yeah. 'ef' them!
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    Posts: 11,189
    Terrible day for Belgium. Hopefully, events like these aren't going to be seen even more frequently. My sympathies to everyone affected - directly or indirectly.

    One thing that always leaves me feeling uncomfortable though is how news stations like Sky News always dramatize these things excessively and use the same buzz words over and over (nightmare, catastrophe, chaos etc).
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    Excellent point, @BAIN123. The media feed off of these things like vultures. They feel compelled to instil fear in the hearts of all by - indeed - putting things in extreme words. They seek to sensationalise; to cause fear and panic. Rather than aid in comforting the wounded souls of fellow countrymen, they add fuel to the burning fires. If the real events were a scene from a horror film, the media are the ones providing a brutal and scary score. I often find journalists repugnant because of their desire to find stronger words than their colleagues. One speaks of "xx died", the next one speaks of "xx were killed" and the third one speaks of "xx were brutally slain." Also, this way they actually in a strange way dignify the actions of the terrorists by offering them the best PR imaginable. Weeks if not months of lending credence to the notion of success of their actions simply by constantly reminding us that, oh yeah, we still have some terrorists on the loose. Let the right people handle the investigations quietly, please, and keep your filthy nose out of their affairs. The more information leaked, the worse for us. When Abdeslam was caught a few days ago, news reporters had been at the scene even before the police arrived! Someone had talked to the press. This could have jeopardized everything! Are they not smart enough to realise this?

    Yes yes, "the people have the right to know" and all that. Well, in some matters, ignorance isn't merely bliss, it's man-da-tory!
  • BAIN123BAIN123
    edited March 2016 Posts: 11,189
    I'm probably cynical because I studied Journalism and am aware of the dramatic language they deliberately use in events like this. They'd argue that they are trying to "paint a picture" for the viewers, but when you always hear the same words used again and again, it becomes irritatingly lazy.
  • DaltonCraig007DaltonCraig007 They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."
    Posts: 15,716
    Since the Paris Attacks in November of last year, I've had several news channel presenters and journalists from here (France) block me on twitter when I slammed them with complaints and heavy insults about how they cover these events by blatantly stepping on the toes of the police work and giving out information that should not be made public.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,179
    Wow, that's terrible, @DaltonCraig007! That means something...
  • ThunderfingerThunderfinger Das Boot Hill
    Posts: 45,489
    BAIN123 wrote: »
    I'm probably cynical because I studied Journalism and am aware of the dramatic language they deliberately use in events like this. They'd argue that they are trying to "paint a picture" for the viewers, but when you always hear the same words used again and again, it becomes irritatingly lazy.

    I studied journalism too at the University briefly, and was unimpressed with what was taught. I left.
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