I heard that a vechile had been investigated with materials for 'a potentially dangerous explosive device'. But that was about 7 this morning, so things have probably moved on since then. Whatever the cause/reason/whatever, we should just be thankful that it didn't work, and it was detonated safely, and no one got hurt.

That's Ok. I can imagine how you feel about it. I just didn't want people to get the wrong impression of me, or that I'm blaming Muslims etc. The only people that need blaming are the people that carry out these attacks, not the people who follow the same religion but are innocent.

Me and my mum used to buy TY beanie babies of a very nice lady who married a man called Omidi. And after 9/11.. well you can probably imagine. So what it must be like for Muslims living in this country when attacks have actually taken place here, I just don't know.

Apparently another car full of petrol was found in the West End. But that also had failed to go off and it has been detonated.

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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

Just got word from relatives in the US that the car found in front of Haymarket made their evening news. This is obviously bigger than at least I thought it was. And it makes things even more suspicious with all this talk of other car bombs elsewhere. I think we can make one conclusion about all this; that more than one person was involved.

But as Darrell said, we can be very thankful that nothing actually happened and that no one was harmed.

@ JF: Looks as though I misinterpreted you as well. Sorry! I know you're not someone who jumps to conclusions like that.

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absolutely. i mean, just after the july 7th bombings there was a suspected bomb in birmingham and they had to evacuate the street where all the clubs/bars etc are. a really close muslim friend of mine was there, and as everyone was leaving the area people started shouting abuse at him, just because he's a muslim. it made me so angry, because he's the kindest, sweetest, gentlest person you could ever wish to meet, and people like him don't deserve to get aggro because of a relative minority of extremists. i also noticed that when i went on a college trip to the houses of parliament, the asian students were searched rather more thoroughly than the white students, which is just plain racist. i could see how much it saddened one of my friends too, and it really bothered me.

i've read a lot about the bosnian war, and although it was sparked by political reasons (serbia declaring independence), it was fed by tensions between the different ethnic and religious groups in the country. if that sort of aggrevation and racial division can lead to war and genocide in a country like bosnia, not all that different to our own, it could quite easily happen here. people (and this isn't aimed at anyone here) have to stop letting stereotypes and media hype cloud their judgements, before it's too late and a real split emerges. and it works all ways - i've seen in action that it's not just white people who are racist and prejudiced.

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I didn't hear about the car bomb until yesterday. I'm glad no one got hurt, it would have been pretty nasty if it had went off.

It would make sense though, like you said ethelfleda, because we have a new PM. Well, anyway, it didn't work, so we should be happy about that.

On the downside, over in Leeds it is still raining! I'm getting tired of all the rain now... I mean, it's June! It should be sunny! By the time it gets sunny, it'll probably time to go back to college.

Edit: I've just had a look at MSN Weather, and it's apparently going to be raining for the next ten days! The only day it isn't going to be raining in Leeds is next Thursday. Stupid British weather!

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techquo @ deviantART
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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

Meep! This is situation really isn't getting much better is it? I mean, I figured something like this would happen with a new PM and the anniversary of the London bombings coming up, but still.. quite frightening really. There've been too many near misses for my liking..

JF, you and ehtelfleda both have very good points. Sadly, I don't live in a very diverse region of the county so I don't have regular dealings with these types of things. I can only imagine what life is like for them. It's true that we can't go blaming every single person from a certain religious/ethnic group even if some of their fellow people have commited some unlawful act. But how else can we route out those who are causing the problems? It's a lose-lose situation on both sides and I don't necessarily agree with it.

@ Sisilcal: 10 days! It's not like they haven't had enough rain already! *shakes fist at sky*

glasgow as well now? it appears the summer months are becoming open season for terrorists.

JF and larael - you're both right of course that we do have to be more vigilant; but that extra vigilance is in danger of causing problems in itself as it can lead to further divides. it really is a lose-lose situation, and i don't know what we should do.

oh, and sisilcal - thanks for the update on the weather in leeds. i hope it's not too bad for you.

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**MY BOOK**

~ proud to be a shieldmaiden for christ ~</center>

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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

I must say, I am very glad that It was prevented in London, kudos to that officer and the efforts of the bomb squad in defusing these potentially deadly devices.

As for the lose -lose situation, I must say, I find myself agreeing, if there is less security, more such events may happen, and if we get paranoid, we risk creating divisions between different groups in the UK. All we have to do is limit the damage as best we can through good security and intelligence on potential terrorist activity. that how I think the government should start to deal with this. Sucessive british governemnts have had experience of such a scenario in Northern Ireland, so we have some idea of the type of tactics that may be used.
I hope everyone is ok, and that everyone and everywhere affected by flooding can recover as swiftly as possible.

Anyways, IM going to the World Tae Kwon Do championships tommorrow, for sparring. Wish me Luck!

Mephiston

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"This is the hour of the Shire-folk, when they arise from their quiet fields to shake the towers and counsels of the Great. Who of all the Wise could have foreseen it? Or, if they are wise, why should they expect to know it, until the hour has struck? "

good luck, mephiston! let us know how it goes. it'd be good for the british society to have some good news to celebrate after all that's been going on recently.

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**MY BOOK**

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I hope it's not too bad, either. Rain, rain, go away, come again another day... or not at all...

Wow, do these people get everywhere now? It seems that something new happens almost every day here at the moment. Humph

I have to admit as well, that after 7/7 I was nervous about going out into Leeds city centre. Hearing that the bombers came from Leeds was a bit frightening, but I suppose it's a natural fear that comes with these situations.

But, good luck, Mephiston! Hope you do well.

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<center>
"Our integrity sells for so little, but it is all we really have. It is the very last inch of us.
But within that inch, we are free."
techquo @ deviantART
[$%=#_&]

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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*

Good luck to you Mephiston! We really do need more more cause for happiness right now. Do tell us how you did, will you?

That's the one thought that makes me feel safe at night really. The fact that we know who the perpetrators are and that we know where to find them [in a manner of speaking]. Of course, it's still worrying that we don't know what exactly they'll do next.

As long as Britain stands strong as we've done in the past, we can overcome all of this. We may not be able to stop it completely [because I don't think anyone will be able to], but we will be able to fight against it as long as we don't back down.

And of course, we shouldn't live in fear. If these so called "terrorists" couldn't carry out their plots today and even yesterday, then what does that say about them. Obviously they are acting very rashly and that will get them no where.

As a quick side note, I want to commend everyone participating in this discussion [because it is a political one if you think about it] for being so courteous and for listening to what others have to say. We have yet to quarrel and I hope it stays that way. Good work ladies and gents.

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^ By me and my SS *squiggle hugs*