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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2007 20:14:31 GMT
E-mail this to a friend Printable version Reporters held in 'fake bomb' bid Two journalists have been arrested after attempting to plant a fake bomb on a Tube train, police said. The Daily Mirror reporters were arrested at the Stonebridge Park depot, north-west London after they were seen acting suspiciously by staff. A Mirror spokesman said the stunt was a justified follow-up after its journalists managed to place a fake device on a nuclear train in 2006. Police confirmed two men were arrested on suspicion of trespass. Security lapses Officers were still searching the depot, said a British Transport Police spokesman. A Mirror spokesman said: "Last year Mirror journalists attempted and succeeded in planting a fake bomb on a nuclear train, which highlighted serious security lapses. "We therefore felt that it was a legitimate and justified journalistic exercise to repeat the action in the interests of public safety. "We are happy to see that the security procedures have now improved." news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6914717.stmthis is it how much more stupid could they get diverting and waisting police time and energy searching the whole depot this kind of event really makes me angry whats everyone else think |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2007 20:29:17 GMT
Stupid Eejits!!!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2007 20:35:53 GMT
a few other words come to mind although all journalists make me think that
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2007 20:58:46 GMT
I personally think they should be prosecuted as terrorists - how long will it be before a journo - who happens to be a terrorist as well , tries to plant a real bomb , and when caught , uses ' i'm a journalist carrying out a legitamate investigation ' , as a credible defence.
If an armed robber holds up a bank with a fake gun , as far as i'm concerned , it's armed robbery.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2007 21:00:16 GMT
I Agree with you 100%, 78rpm.
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Post by stanmorek on Jul 24, 2007 21:06:47 GMT
As if Metronet need any more bad publicity.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2007 21:08:43 GMT
surely it's good publicity as they were caught. Better than when the teenagers were chased earlier in the year.
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Post by stanmorek on Jul 24, 2007 21:10:51 GMT
Yes you're right the press didn't get their expose this time.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2007 21:20:59 GMT
I also agree they should be prosecuted as terrorists. Although their underlying reason was to make money rather than to promote any political aim, their actions were designed to create terror and chaos. I would also hope that the editor is arrested for aiding and abetting.
It will be interesting to see the front page headlines on the Mirror tomorrow which will undoubtedly praise the security of our railways and the bravery and quick-thinking of our depot staff. Oh I'm sorry, did I drift off into cloud cuckoo land for a second there?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2007 21:25:03 GMT
I won't be buying the paper anymore... If my 40p each day goes off to fund silly expeditions, I will put it elsewhere!
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Post by Colin on Jul 24, 2007 23:48:02 GMT
**Admin hat on** Robster (and everyone else) - whilst you have acknowledged the source of your quote on this occasion, can we please refrain from copying and pasting news articles. A link would suffice and will avoid any potential copyright issues  **Admin hat off** Mirror? Never bought it, and never will. What a bunch of irresponsible idiots - next time (and there's bound to be another "test") I hope they trip over the juice rails. You would have thought that the likes of the Barking incident proves how dangerous the railway environment is - after all, they were graffiti painters and, [despite what I think of such activities] would have been at least a little more aware of the rails etc than these "journalists". |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2007 1:16:23 GMT
I personally think they should be prosecuted as terrorists - how long will it be before a journo - who happens to be a terrorist as well , tries to plant a real bomb , and when caught , uses ' i'm a journalist carrying out a legitamate investigation ' , as a credible defence. If an armed robber holds up a bank with a fake gun , as far as i'm concerned , it's armed robbery. Agree with you there completely! |
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Post by pakenhamtrain on Jul 25, 2007 4:33:25 GMT
If they hadn't of been caught the fake device would most likely of been found my a member of staff or a member of the public and would of had the potential of stopping trains on the the underground network.
I agree that they should be prosecuted as terrorists.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2007 6:31:39 GMT
If they hadn't of been caught the fake device would most likely of been found my a member of staff or a member of the public and would of had the potential of stopping trains on the the underground network. Which in and of itself potentially creates a dangerous situation with trains stalled etc...... |
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Post by SE13 on Jul 25, 2007 6:45:05 GMT
Sorry, but I don't think that the journalistic value should overwrite the seriousness of the event. They have gone there to sell papers, nothing else. They could have potentially shut the system down, possibly got themselves killed, and any number of other adverse things.
They should be prosecuted as trespassers, and potential terrorists. If they are not, it opens a complete can of worms, allowing any Tom, Dick or Harry to carry explosives and put on a journalists hat claiming public safety is their aim.
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Post by Chris M on Jul 25, 2007 8:38:28 GMT
If there is a need to test security procedures in this manner then LU & BTP should appoint the required number of people to do it officially (perhaps plain clothes BTP officer(s)). This way when they get caught, officialdom knows what is happening, the people on the ground who stopped them can see they are not terrorists.
The results of these tests should be reported in detail to the BTP and LU/TfL management and any other official bodies that need to know. The results should not be made public, otherwise all a terrorist has to do is buy the Daily Mirror (or whichever publication it is) who have done all the hard work of scouting out how to get into these places for them.
Actually, thinking about it, these sort of tests could be going on in private anyway - we (the general public) wouldn't know, and it would imho be stupid for one of the bodies to comment either way beyond a general "we keep our security procedures under constant review" (or words to that effect).
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Post by SE13 on Jul 25, 2007 11:49:31 GMT
I would like to think that there are tests going on that we know nothing about. Public safety is at the fore of our minds absolutely all the time.
These reporters have attempted to undermine the authorities, and essentially taken the law into their own hands. It's bang out of order, and should be severely dealt with.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2007 14:05:59 GMT
I see they've been bailed til September 7th. Seems they've not been charged with anything related to terrorism. What a total copout! Imagine if that bomb had been found by a passenger!
And absolutely nothing on the Mirror's website about it. It's almost as though the incident didn't happen.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2007 20:03:03 GMT
Security on London underground is the responsibility of the company. However the department of transport has a regulatory task and has an inspection regime. This is called the TRANSEC team. A link to the DOT's website : www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/security/land/responsibilitiesoftransports4898Transec inspectors do make unannounced inspections. I've heard stories of inspectors trying to gain unauthorised access or simply sit on a platform for a few hours, waiting to be moved on (and checking the hourly checks are being done). IMHO there are some fairly large gaps in security on the Underground, which the media would be better to highlight - as these flaws are at procedural level and not down to a security guards lapse of judgement (or not in this case), but for obvious reasons these concerns won't be posted on the internet. |
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Post by c5 on Jul 25, 2007 20:14:22 GMT
Just to add that the Beeb got the depot wrong! It was actually another depot in Stonebridge (EWS?).
Were these the same operators that had a "fake device" planted last time, that was not found?
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Post by c5 on Jul 26, 2007 8:17:11 GMT
Well it seems that The Mirror is now complaining at their treatment..... Ah... diddums... What a shame! tinyurl.com/yqtmcw |
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Post by Colin on Jul 26, 2007 12:10:47 GMT
On the basis of that link then (ie, according to The Mirror), all terrorists have to do is say they are journalists working on an assignment and they'll be allowed to continue on their way.
What planet are they on?
They were trespassing on the railway, and by their own admission, had been there unsupervised for around 30 minutes. Damm right they should be fully investigated and dealt with by the old bill.
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Post by Phil on Jul 26, 2007 14:41:05 GMT
The worrying thing is that they could have been arrested under terrorist laws and held without charge for days or more - so why weren't they?? SURELY not collusion  |
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Post by SE13 on Jul 26, 2007 15:33:22 GMT
The mere fact that they haven't been arrested makes alarm bells ring in my mind. I find it utterly beyond belief that they could possibly get away with it. I highlighted earlier, as did others, the potential outcomes.
Yes, so they were found, which proves security did work on this occasion, but the floodgates are open for repeats. I can see it now; "The Daily Mirror got away with it, why shouldn't I"
Can I just ask what would happen to me, if I were found wandering around near a depot?
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Post by Colin on Jul 26, 2007 15:43:00 GMT
The worrying thing is that they could have been arrested under terrorist laws and held without charge for days or more - so why weren't they?? SURELY not collusion The mere fact that they haven't been arrested makes alarm bells ring in my mind. I find it utterly beyond belief that they could possibly get away with it. I highlighted earlier, as did others, the potential outcomes. They were arrested under Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001. They have also been Police bailed until September. JTD's link (reply#20 above) to The Mirror's page confirms this I think the fact that they were released so soon shows that the Police would have found it difficult to prove they were acting in a such a manner or had such an intention though. At best they can be prosecuted for trespass and endangering the railway. I think any more serious charges would be hard to make stand up in court if we're realistic. A pity - but that's they way it is  |
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Post by Chris W on Jul 26, 2007 19:48:50 GMT
I like the way the Mirror has tried to argue that it is making things harder for journalists claiming that their treatment by Police was heavy handed (taking photographic equipment/computers etc). Talk about trying to have their cake and eat it.... Their were treated like any other terrorist... what did they expect  You can't behave like a terrorist and claim then otherwise verbally without proof... that proof needed to be verified so what is their problem besides their bruised little egos. Investigative journalism does require respect... but for a paper/journalist to cry when their hoped for story (pre-determined angle) if found to be wanting shows how pathetic they are... my heart bleeds... NOT! You can guarantee that the same (so called) journalists would have claimed that the security services were lax if they had just been let go or thrown out of the depot without further investigation. PATHETIC PILLOCK'S PROPAGANDA  IMO it just demonstrates the fundamental lack of integrity from the editorial staff of that publication - when you're wrong (as we ALL are from time to time), ADMIT IT & take the consequences. Now that really is integrity which only true investigative journalists show! Something that this paper* or journalists concerned can only dream of having one day. * NOTE: I have never used the word 'news' in referring to the paper concerned as I do not want to insult other genuine newspaper publications (not that there are many)! and RRREEELLLLLAAAXXXXXXXXX |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2007 0:03:32 GMT
Ah well, I've never liked that particular paper anyway (especially since the fake photo's incident)... That's one paper I'd see on a train while changing ends and just leave it for someone else!
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