Multiple stabbings in London

Terrorism definition is listed as 'the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims'.

So if someone with metal illness starts killing people this is not terrorism because it's not politically motivated. It is more likely drugs are involved one way or another (either taking them or not taking them) and don't forget that huge quantities of ultra processed foods cause mental health problems too. And that's official.

I would suggest that we are seeing more and more young men going off their heads and turning murderous because they have spent years abusing themselves with drugs, alcohol and junk food. Add to that violent video games and movies and you have a perfect storm. An unhealthy life will produce an unhealthy mind. Just my theory.

Maggiemaybe

Sago

In Sydney a similar attack was stopped due to the actions of a very brave Police woman.
She was armed!
We need to have armed Police in our Cities.

And here it’s been stopped by very brave unarmed officers. Two of whom are currently undergoing surgery.

Two brave officers who are injured!
We need armed Police.

I wonder that the police didn’t taser him before he was able to get close to them?There will be questions asked I bet.

growstuff

Callistemon21

ITV has hidden his face.

This is happening far too often on our streets now.
Where are we failing?

It's still a tiny percent of the population who do this sort of thing. There isn't a single motive and I doubt very much that "we" as a society can do much to prevent incidents like this, unless somebody has a crystal ball and knew in advance that certain people are extremely likely to run through the streets stabbing people. I guess it depends if he had a specific target.

Yes, it might be a tiny percentage of the population but the incidences of knife crime are higher in recent years than they were several years ago.

They did taser him eventually but couldn’t get close enough to him.

Poor 13 year old lad. Went to bed last night with thoughts just of football/school today/whether to smile at that girl ant the bus stop - and now … just gone. So shocked and yes, shocked too that I’m not as shocked as I would’ve been years ago.

Condolences to his family and friends. A young life cut short indeed.

Sago

Maggiemaybe

Sago

In Sydney a similar attack was stopped due to the actions of a very brave Police woman.
She was armed!
We need to have armed Police in our Cities.

And here it’s been stopped by very brave unarmed officers. Two of whom are currently undergoing surgery.

Two brave officers who are injured!
We need armed Police.

There is an armed response unit who can be deployed, if there's sufficient time, and it's deemed justifiable.

From my family who are police I can say that large numbers of officers would not want to be routinely armed and if it was mandatory they would leave the service.
Think how those armed police who have used their weapons are often crucified by press and public. No wonder SO19 lose officers in their wake, handing back their weapons to be redeployed elsewhere.

And then the speculation why they didn't taser him sooner? If they deploy their taser they are subject to investigation, and God help them if they can't fully justify it. In this case they just couldn't get close enough any sooner.

I thought I may have become desensitised over many years but, no I haven't.

He was someone's beloved son, grandson. 😥
Another young life senselessly cut short.

Oreo

I wonder that the police didn’t taser him before he was able to get close to them?There will be questions asked I bet.

Oh no doubt, Damned if they do, damned if they don’t, as usual. The attacker was arrested unharmed (as far as we know) within 22 minutes of the 999 call. I doubt any police force anywhere could have done a better job.

As you say, Rosie51, most police officers here don’t want to be routinely armed. Those in my family feel just as your family members do - if it was mandatory they would leave. And they’ve all been injured at some stage in the line of duty.

It's just devastating. A family destroyed for what? No matter how sad, angry, frustrated I feel, I can't begin to imagine how they're feeling, and part of me feels ashamed I'm so grateful for that.

All our brave police, men and women, should be armed.

Callistemon21

growstuff

Callistemon21

ITV has hidden his face.

This is happening far too often on our streets now.
Where are we failing?

It's still a tiny percent of the population who do this sort of thing. There isn't a single motive and I doubt very much that "we" as a society can do much to prevent incidents like this, unless somebody has a crystal ball and knew in advance that certain people are extremely likely to run through the streets stabbing people. I guess it depends if he had a specific target.

Yes, it might be a tiny percentage of the population but the incidences of knife crime are higher in recent years than they were several years ago.

It’s the same as saying airplane crashes are rare. But when the do it’s catastrophic 😥

ALL the cutbacks over many years are now coming to fruition.
First it was the closure of secure mental health units.
Where shall we house them, in the community.
Who’s going to medicate the seriously ill, the psychiatric nurses we put out of a job.
Now ^we find that we don’t want/ can’t afford/ can’t be arsed to employ those CPNs.
Thereby putting thousands of lives at risk from poor souls who should have been in a secure unit.

Agree petra

petra

ALL the cutbacks over many years are now coming to fruition.
First it was the closure of secure mental health units.
Where shall we house them, in the community.
Who’s going to medicate the seriously ill, the psychiatric nurses we put out of a job.
Now ^we find that we don’t want/ can’t afford/ can’t be arsed to employ those CPNs.
Thereby putting thousands of lives at risk from poor souls who should have been in a secure unit.

Yes. Whatever happened to ‘care in the community’. More like close the mental hospitals to save money and let people fend for themselves.

tickingbird

They did taser him eventually but couldn’t get close enough to him.

In that case how come two police officers need surgery?

petra

ALL the cutbacks over many years are now coming to fruition.
First it was the closure of secure mental health units.
Where shall we house them, in the community.
Who’s going to medicate the seriously ill, the psychiatric nurses we put out of a job.
Now ^we find that we don’t want/ can’t afford/ can’t be arsed to employ those CPNs.
Thereby putting thousands of lives at risk from poor souls who should have been in a secure unit.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Oreo

tickingbird
They did taser him eventually but couldn’t get close enough to him.
In that case how come two police officers need surgery?

Tasering someone isn’t that easy. From the reports I heard one taser didn’t have any effect. If it doesn’t connect properly it’s useless. The officers were chasing him apparently but couldn’t get close enough. I believe he’d already injured the two officers.

Whilst it would seem to be a solution to arm our police, I just think it would be too unfair on them, because in this country we immediately suspend any police officer who has fired a gun and hurt someone. Then there are months long investigations and all that ensues from that. If we can’t do what was done in Australia, and commend a police officer who uses their gun in the line of duty, and thereby saves the lives of others, then we shouldn’t arm them routinely. We do have armed units that can respond when necessary to certain situations.

I thought how brave those policemen were. No apparent body armour, shields or head protection yet they went straight after him.

My DH used to say if the police started to carry guns routinely he would leave and many of his colleagues agreed. It would result in more violence.

petra

ALL the cutbacks over many years are now coming to fruition.
First it was the closure of secure mental health units.
Where shall we house them, in the community.
Who’s going to medicate the seriously ill, the psychiatric nurses we put out of a job.
Now ^we find that we don’t want/ can’t afford/ can’t be arsed to employ those CPNs.
Thereby putting thousands of lives at risk from poor souls who should have been in a secure unit.

👏👏👏

AGAA4

My DH used to say if the police started to carry guns routinely he would leave and many of his colleagues agreed. It would result in more violence.

I don't know that Australia is more violent than the UK, perhaps someone has statistics.

Certainly some horrendous mass murders come to mind but we have had those here too.

Well it’s only opinion, but I would have thought Australia was less violent than the UK. However during the recent stabbing incident that took place in Australia, the armed policewoman shot dead the attacker, and thus prevented any further deaths. She was the first on the scene and was routinely armed. She was commended for her bravery the same day. That wouldn’t happen here in the UK.
I don’t think we should routinely arm our police, despite the increased dangers. It would be unfair on them.

There is a rental property opposite to me that is lived in by someone who didn't cope well with the care home he was in: they felt that a quiet cul de sac lived with just pensioners would be quieter for him. Is it awful of me to have worried initially that he was a paranoid schizophrenic ( I don’t think that he is)?They took him for a walk the other day and it took two of his care workers to get him back in the house. What makes it even worse is that the house needed a complete refurbishment before it could house new tenants but that was never done.