Geo V Posted 25 July 2007 Posted 25 July 2007 http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,,2134077,00.html Two Daily Mirror journalists were arrested yesterday after attempting to plant a fake bomb on a train in what the newspaper called a "legitimate and justified journalistic exercise". The reporters were arrested at Stonebridge Park depot in north-west London after railway staff noticed the men carrying fake equipment and approached them to ask what they were doing on the site before contacting the British Transport police to report the trespass. A police spokesman said the men were arrested at the depot yesterday afternoon and taken to a police station nearby. The matter was still being investigated and no charges had yet been laid, police said. The Mirror defended its reporters yesterday. It said they were carrying out the investigation to test security and were following up on a similar story last year when its reporter Tom Parry planted a fake bomb on a train bound for Sellafield. "Last year Mirror journalists attempted and succeeded in planting a fake bomb on a nuclear train, which highlighted serious security lapses," a spokesperson for the paper said. "We 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." Mr Parry is understood to be one of the two men held yesterday. Following the arrests a spokeswoman from the Ministry of Defence said that security was a top priority. In January a Mirror journalist also placed a fake bomb on an unguarded train at Didcot Parkway station in Oxfordshire, an exercise which prompted a review of security on MoD trains. · This article was amended on Wednesday July 25 2007. In the opening paragraph we misquoted the Daily Mirror spokesperson saying it was it a "legitimate and justified journalistic experience". The spokesperson said "exercise" not "experience". This has been corrected. Bloody tabloids trying to catch out the authorities. They have enough to worry about with the real thing to mess about with these news hungry dickheads. I hope they get jail terms.
Kent Fox Posted 25 July 2007 Posted 25 July 2007 This sort of 'journalism' has happend before, hasn't it? Heathrow, I think. I am going to sit on the fence on this one because whilst I don't like this kind of sensationalistic journalism, it invariably highlights areas that need addressing in the "fight against terror". It's quite ironic that it's come out on the day that Gordon Brown has outlined his new plans against the fight. If the final outcome is for the public good, then I am all for it.
Geo V Posted 25 July 2007 Author Posted 25 July 2007 This sort of 'journalism' has happend before, hasn't it? Heathrow, I think.I am going to sit on the fence on this one because whilst I don't like this kind of sensationalistic journalism, it invariably highlights areas that need addressing in the "fight against terror". It's quite ironic that it's come out on the day that Gordon Brown has outlined his new plans against the fight. If the final outcome is for the public good, then I am all for it. So now they have caught these two numbnuts, England is safe? Its a pointless exercise because if they get caught like they did, its just one isolated incident but if they manage to plant the fake bomb, all hell breaks loose because the security is shite. Pointless.
Kent Fox Posted 25 July 2007 Posted 25 July 2007 So now they have caught these two numbnuts, England is safe? Its a pointless exercise because if they get caught like they did, its just one isolated incident but if they manage to plant the fake bomb, all hell breaks loose because the security is shite.Pointless. Like I said, I am fence-sitting and as such will play Devils Advocate. They were following up the Sellafield incident last year. If they succeeded, then you're right, security will be blamed and the rail authorities will be made aware of it. If they failed, which they did, then it has positively highlighted the fact that rail security is as good s it was when they stepped it up last year. Pointless? Maybe. But if a couple of hacks can succeed, then terrorists will. If a real bomb had been planted, and terrorists caught, how would this thread be then? Or worse, terrorists not caught and a bomb went off?
Phube Posted 25 July 2007 Posted 25 July 2007 Imagine if it was shoot to kill!!??? I'm afraid I'd have to !!
davieG Posted 25 July 2007 Posted 25 July 2007 No matter how much security you have, and some people already believe it's gone too far already a determined person can always find a way to plant a bomb, frankly it's just not that difficult in a relatively free, mobile society. To me it proves bugger all and for anyone to believe they are doing it for any other reason than to gain some journalistic one-upmanship on another rag is beyond me. Philanthropic, social do gooders they aint. .
Zingari Posted 25 July 2007 Posted 25 July 2007 No matter how much security you have, and some people already believe it's gone too far already a determined person can always find a way to plant a bomb, frankly it's just not that difficult in a relatively free, mobile society. To me it proves bugger all and for anyone to believe they are doing it for any other reason than to gain some journalistic one-upmanship on another rag is beyond me.Philanthropic, social do gooders they aint. . amen to that davieg
coale39 Posted 25 July 2007 Posted 25 July 2007 No matter how much security you have, and some people already believe it's gone too far already a determined person can always find a way to plant a bomb, frankly it's just not that difficult in a relatively free, mobile society. To me it proves bugger all and for anyone to believe they are doing it for any other reason than to gain some journalistic one-upmanship on another rag is beyond me.Philanthropic, social do gooders they aint. .
Monk Posted 25 July 2007 Posted 25 July 2007 Hate it when papers do things like this! Its not in public interest. ITs a shock exercise to sell papers! For pitys sake. All of the failed bomb attempts so far have involved a great big bloody plot. If you get 2 white journalists with no criminal records, are not muslims and dont buy huge quantities of fertilizer with their mint card, then its probably less likely to be caught (that was meant in a non racist non offensive way btw). Pointless. I hope the stupid paper gets fined a large amount of money for wasting police time, and hopefully for wasting all of our time reading about their pathetic attempt at journalism.
Simi Posted 25 July 2007 Posted 25 July 2007 Imagine if it was shoot to kill!!??? I'm afraid I'd have to !! Glad they were find out.
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