Brussels airport attack

[Deleted member 16999]

We didn't have these problems then so it would not be the same. I can remember travelling through Belgium to Germany and being held up by the Belgium's at Aachen longer than anywhere else.

Yes we did have these problems, the IRA murdered a British Soldier sat in his car at traffic lights in Belgium and the IRA had cells based there travelling to Holland and Germany to carry out attacks.

 

[SocketRocket]

Yes we did have these problems, the IRA murdered a British Soldier sat in his car at traffic lights in Belgium and the IRA had cells based there travelling to Holland and Germany to carry out attacks.

We never had open borders where millions of people could migrate through the continent unchecked. The IRA operations were minuscule in comparison.

 

[SocketRocket]

You think todays attacks could have been prevented by having better security?!

Of course better security services reduce the chances of this. It's not possible to remove it completely but Belgium has very poor security and this is the home of the EU. The Uk's security services are far superior, they have noting remotely like GCHQ or MI5 over there.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

We never had open borders where millions of people could migrate through the continent unchecked. The IRA operations were minuscule in comparison.

The French attackers were brought up in Europe, most of the recent attacks are by home grown terrorists, So we had closed borders in the past and the IRA went around Europe for years, tell me again how it was better?

 

[SocketRocket]

The French attackers were brought up in Europe, most of the recent attacks are by home grown terrorists, So we had closed borders in the past and the IRA went around Europe for years, tell me again how it was better?

How do you know these terrorists are home grown? Some of the recent ones in France were migrants.

It has been estimated by Europol that around 5,000 Jihadist terrorists have recently come to Europe with the current wave of migrants from the middle east.

 

[sawtooth]

Of course better security services reduce the chances of this. It's not possible to remove it completely but Belgium has very poor security and this is the home of the EU. The Uk's security services are far superior, they have noting remotely like GCHQ or MI5 over there.

If you doubled or trebled security at the airport the terrorists would simply find other targets wouldn't they? Its impossible to protect every school, pub, restaurant, shop, etc, etc.

It could quite easily have been Heathrow today instead.

 

[bluewolf]

Shocking shocking events. A horrible reflection on modern society. Thoughts to the victims families and friends.


Also, may just be a naive thought, but maybe it would be a touch more thoughtful if this thread wasn't used to further anyone's political positions. Plenty of other threads to discuss that.

 

[SocketRocket]

If you doubled or trebled security at the airport the terrorists would simply find other targets wouldn't they? Its impossible to protect every school, pub, restaurant, shop, etc, etc.

It could quite easily have been Heathrow today instead.

Our Security Services have been very successful in rooting out terrorists before they get to that stage. OK, we are not immune from it but the work by agencies like MI5 and GCHQ are far superior to those used in many other countries.

Do you not think that the open borders between countries like France and Belgium has made it easier for these terrorists to operate?

 

[SocketRocket]

Shocking shocking events. A horrible reflection on modern society. Thoughts to the victims families and friends.


Also, may just be a naive thought, but maybe it would be a touch more thoughtful if this thread wasn't used to further anyone's political positions. Plenty of other threads to discuss that.

But it is a political issue. The terrorists think so.

 

[bluewolf]

But it is a political issue. The terrorists think so.

Ok. Discuss away. If it's good enough for terrorists then why shouldn't we stoop to it?


Taste is sometimes such a 4 letter word on this forum.

 

[Hobbit]

You think todays attacks could have been prevented by having better security?!

Of course better security services reduce the chances of this. It's not possible to remove it completely but Belgium has very poor security and this is the home of the EU. The Uk's security services are far superior, they have noting remotely like GCHQ or MI5 over there.

I've been travelling throughout Europe for several month. Every single airport, both within the UK and elsewhere in Europe, is wide open to attacks before you get to the check in. C'mon, guys, you all know how easy it is to get as far as security before your bags are checked. Saying we're better is just plain stupid.

 

[Hacker Khan]

Shocking shocking events. A horrible reflection on modern society. Thoughts to the victims families and friends.


Also, may just be a naive thought, but maybe it would be a touch more thoughtful if this thread wasn't used to further anyone's political positions. Plenty of other threads to discuss that.

Think you're missing the point as it is Forum rules that every thread has to eventually end up discussing immigration and Britain's borders. Even the ones asking what golf ball people use.

 

[Big Whacker]

Probably because it's the biggest problem faced in Britain since WW2!

Deal with it as it's not going away.

 

[chrisd]

My wife is due to go to Belgium (not Brussels) next weekend with 2 coach loads of choir members and that is now in doubt and I'm off for my sons stag do from Gatwick tomorrow and I have to say that, for the first time ever we are both a little nervous!

 

[ColchesterFC]

I've been travelling throughout Europe for several month. Every single airport, both within the UK and elsewhere in Europe, is wide open to attacks before you get to the check in. C'mon, guys, you all know how easy it is to get as far as security before your bags are checked. Saying we're better is just plain stupid.

Totally agree with this. You wouldn't look twice at someone wheeling a suitcase or pushing a trolley up to a check in desk. If you increase security outside the airport you then have crowds gathering there to wait to pass security and the target for people wanting to do this simply moves outside. Unfortunately there is little or nothing that can be done to stop an attack like this other than hoping that the security agencies pick them up before they get a chance to attack.

 

[Smiffy]

My wife is due to go to Belgium (not Brussels) next weekend with 2 coach loads of choir members and that is now in doubt and I'm off for my sons stag do from Gatwick tomorrow and I have to say that, for the first time ever we are both a little nervous!

I went on a rare trip to London a few months ago.
We were travelling during rush hour, mainline stations packed to the rafters as were the tube trains.
As I was stood on the train, a young unshaven foreign guy got on and stood right next to me with a rucksack on his back.
For a second I thought "what if".

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Probably because it's the biggest problem faced in Britain since WW2!

Deal with it as it's not going away.

Terrorism Yes - immigration no

 

[rickg]

My wife is due to go to Belgium (not Brussels) next weekend with 2 coach loads of choir members and that is now in doubt and I'm off for my sons stag do from Gatwick tomorrow and I have to say that, for the first time ever we are both a little nervous!

I flew into Toulouse airport last night. This morning it was evacuated. I'm due to fly out of there this afternoon. Starting to feel just a bit nervous at the prospect.

 

[rickg]

I went on a rare trip to London a few months ago.
We were travelling during rush hour, mainline stations packed to the rafters as were the tube trains.
As I was stood on the train, a young unshaven foreign guy got on and stood right next to me with a rucksack on his back.
For a second I thought "what if".

I bet he was more nervous with some dodgy old bloke eying him up!:rofl:

 

[Hacker Khan]

My wife is due to go to Belgium (not Brussels) next weekend with 2 coach loads of choir members and that is now in doubt and I'm off for my sons stag do from Gatwick tomorrow and I have to say that, for the first time ever we are both a little nervous!

I'm sure you know the stats that they are more likely to be killed by the coach crashing or in the car on the way to Gatwick than terrorism.

And parents on sons stag dos? Really? But I think that may well be off topic.