Shots fired at Westminster

[Horus]

Reports of shots being fired around the houses of Parliament and Westminster
Possibly started on Westminster bridge
Air ambulance is landing in road
Possibly a man weilding a knife and attacking a policeman inside the Parliament building
MP's are in lockdown in the house for safety and PM has been whisked away in a car
Several bodies seen on Westminster bridge possibly involving a vehicle

[HEPZIBAH]

Watching BBC News live - all sounds very confusing at the moment. Potentially more than one incident!

[Horus]

Yes it is all happening at the moment, police everywhere

[Horus]

It appears that a car was ploughing into pedestrians on the pavement of Westminster bridge, it then crashed the cordon to parliament square and an assailant wielding a knife jumped out and attacked a policemen and was then shot by another policemen. The TV pictures are showing many ambulances on the bridge, maybe a dozen or so and it is looking like the usual suspects are involved from a description of the attacker given by an eye witness.

[HEPZIBAH]

I don't know whether to take it as a good sign or a bad one for those that were run down that of all those ambulances that arrived none seem to have moved away.

[HEPZIBAH]

The attack at Westminster, both on the bridge and at the Palace of Westminster are beyond appalling. It has now been declared as an Act of Terrorism, and so far 4 people have died and at least another 20 injured -some with 'catastrophic' injuries.

The emergency services responded swiftly and, in what looks like chaos as we watch it on the T.V, an amazing coordinated operation was underway.

What has stood out is how many people rushed to help those on the bridge, how an mp immediately went to the aid of the injured, now dead, police man and gave him mouth to mouth resuscitation. Whilst many people quite naturally and necessarily were fleeing the area there were others who didn't think of themselves first - they saw a need and did what they could to meet it.
For all the evil in this world there is still a great deal of good.

Tonight there are going to be some very sad and frightened and exhausted people. They need our support in prayer and positive thoughts. Whatever happens we must never let these heinous acts take complete control of our lives. We must not allow ourselves to live in fear, because then evil has won.

[newcastle]

It appears that a car was ploughing into pedestrians on the pavement of Westminster bridge, it then crashed the cordon to parliament square and an assailant wielding a knife jumped out and attacked a policemen and was then shot by another policemen. The TV pictures are showing many ambulances on the bridge, maybe a dozen or so and it is looking like the usual suspects are involved from a description of the attacker given by an eye witness.

Indeed :



Presumably, the identity of the attacker, and background information, will be released in the coming days as the police plough through his phones, internet etc.etc.

[Horus]

Yes that picture came later after the eye witness had already spoken on TV, what is not visible in that image is the large knife on the floor nearby. Earlier it had a police marksman standing with his foot on the weapon after it was kicked away and pointing a gun at him as the ambulance men treated him on the stretcher.

[carrie]

Reading Hepzibah's post about an MP going to the aid of an injured policeman made me wonder what I would do in a similar situation, run like hell away from the situation or stay and help, I would like to think the latter but I'm afraid not.

[newcastle]

Reading Hepzibah's post about an MP going to the aid of an injured policeman made me wonder what I would do in a similar situation, run like hell away from the situation or stay and help, I would like to think the latter but I'm afraid not.

With the possibility of suicide vests etc. it would take a brave person to approach a terrorist...even one lying apparently disabled and disarmed.

[newcastle]

I was interested - but not at all surprised - to see the BBC reporter commenting this morning on the fact that the assailant was given the same medical care and attempted resuscitation as his victim(s).

Somewhat in contrast to the vitriolic comments I've read on social media!

In my opinion, the actions of the medics were entirely right and display what makes us "better" than the sociopaths who carry out these kinds of murderous attacks.

[carrie]

Listening to reports this morning my heart goes out to all those involved in this awful crime. Not just those who are injured and the family and friends of those who have died but those also who were just present at the time. The trauma of such an event will live with them for ever.

[Horus]

I agree up to a point, no doubt when you are responsible for saving lives then you cannot make a distinction as to whom you treat. It is also a fairly well established protocol that even enemies show some compassion to the wounded on the other side, although this has not always been the case as two world wars and many others that came later have shown when atrocities towards the wounded were committed. The public’s reaction to this sort of thing is understandable as these people are not true combatants, but rather evil people intent on committing an atrocity and we all know that they (the terrorist) themselves would show little or no compassion if the situation were reversed. My own reason for keeping these people alive would be for the intelligent that may be gained rather than any feeling of compassion towards them, their behaviour excludes them from the normal rules of society IMO.

[newcastle]

You start down a slippery slope once you start judging the value of another persons life when considering how to treat them.

This is why we have the Geneva Convention...and related laws.

I can understand the "human" reaction in these situations. I would hope, speaking for myself, to discount it.

[Horus]

This is why we have the Geneva Convention...and related laws

Fine, but first of all you need everyone to have signed up to it, just ask any prisoner of war of the Japanese, or the thousands of Russians & Poles murdered by the SS, or the millions of German women raped by the liberating Russian army, the list is endless. It all sounds good on paper, but reality like human feelings are a different matter.

[newcastle]

This is why we have the Geneva Convention...and related laws

Fine, but first of all you need everyone to have signed up to it, just ask any prisoner of war of the Japanese, or the thousands of Russians & Poles murdered by the SS, or the millions of German women raped by the liberating Russian army, the list is endless. It all sounds good on paper, but reality like human feelings are a different matter.

No doubt.

I don't speak for anyone but myself on these matters. I know how I would act.....or, at least, hope to act.

What others do is up to them, and their conscience.

[Dusak]

Looking at this and similar ones over the past few months, the terrorist does now not need a weapon or an explosive vest, there are countless millions of weapons freely available on the roads of any city or town, vehicles, that are all capable of mass destruction and injury.

[Horus]

This is why we have the Geneva Convention...and related laws

Fine, but first of all you need everyone to have signed up to it, just ask any prisoner of war of the Japanese, or the thousands of Russians & Poles murdered by the SS, or the millions of German women raped by the liberating Russian army, the list is endless. It all sounds good on paper, but reality like human feelings are a different matter.

No doubt.

I don't speak for anyone but myself on these matters. I know how I would act.....or, at least, hope to act.

What others do is up to them, and their conscience.

And I admire your moral standpoint, as for myself I would not want to see just one child waiting in A&E with as much as a cut finger having to be delayed their treatment in order to prioritise this Jihadist scumbag, my only reason for treating him would be so that he could be hung later.

[newcastle]

Those are my principles.....if you don't like them....

Spoiler

I have others! Groucho Marx

[Dusak]

Any medical response personnel are trained to preserve life, whoever it is they are dealing with. The police officer should of carried through with the ''double tap.'' Thus giving the medics extra time to treat those more worthy of their professionalism.