A quiet first day

[AndrewT]

When starting a new job it's always good to have a relaxed first day, to ease yourself into the new position and familiarise yourself with your new duties. Maybe come in, make yourself a tea, introduce yourself to the people you're working with. Go on a tour of the building, find out where everything is, things like that.

So, you can't help but feel a bit sorry for Jacqui Smith, the new Home Secretary, who gets woken up early with a phone call on her first day at work saying 'We've found a car bomb in the centre of London'.

[matt674]

Why do some news stations have a tendency to (for want of a better phrase) "blow things out of all proportion". If you believe a certain satellite news station this morning the "bomb" was big enough to blow up half of London and this is even before anyone has come out at an official press conference to report the actual facts. They claim several eye witnesses say they saw the car - a silver mercedes, being driven erratically in the early hours of this morning. The driver proceeded to crash the car into some bins and was seen running away from the scene. It was reported by police that they found gas canisters in the back and that is when the bomb disposal team were called in.

For all we know the car could have belonged to a bouncy castle owner and it was stolen in the middle of the night (like sometimes happens with nice Mercedes) and was driven around for a while by a joyrider before he crashed it and rather than be a good boy and stick around at the scene of the crime decided to leg it..........

But then that doesn't make for over-dramatic news to wake people up first thing in the morning, nope we have to get the nation on amber alert!!

[Jon MW]

I think the BBC got it about right.

They said the police called it a viable bomb - so it was a bomb and could have gone off - but there was no indication of size, and that they found it because the vehicle was 'suspicious'. It may lack a bit of detail and the BBC end up repeating themselves frequently because they have so few things to say but at least it avoids the over the top reporting favoured by some of the other news channels.

[kinboshi]

It was reported as a bomb - rather than explosive materials.  So it does sound like it's a device that was intended to be used as a bomb (rather than something innocent but dangerous such as gas cannisters, etc.).

[AndrewT]

Intelligence sources said they were keeping an open mind on who was responsible for the car bomb.

"All options, including the Irish, are open at this stage," said the source.

Whilst I can understand the need not to jump to conclusions, I wonder what price 'the Irish' are to be behind this?

[Graham C]

Probably someone from Tony's team on the wind up!

Just unplug it and let her go back to sleep, that's my advise.

[boldie]

I just heard a witness say after being asked "Well, the guy who walked away didn't look Irish"...which lead the commentator to immediatly say "This of course implies that it was a Muslim"


nice

[Graham C]

I just heard a witness say after being asked "Well, the guy who walked away didn't look Irish"...which lead the commentator to immediatly say "This of course implies that it was a Muslim"
nice

I'm not 100% sure they're correct there.   New security footage in suggests the witness may have been mistaken

[Robert HM]

Typical of the Civil Servants to get it wrong or ignore their political masters. Gordon Brown apparantly told the Cabinet Secretary that Ms. Smith, who was aggitating for an appointment, that she was a woman whose place should either be in the Home or as a Secretary.

[booder]

Typical of the Civil Servants to get it wrong or ignore their political masters. Gordon Brown apparantly told the Cabinet Secretary that Ms. Smith, who was aggitating for an appointment, that she was a woman whose place should either be in the Home or as a Secretary.

 

[Irishdenis]

What do you mean didn't look Irish...

Reminds me of the joke about the chap who meets a girl in a bar. He asks her name and what she does for a living. She answers " I am a nymphomaniac and am writing a book" Oh says the chap and what is the book about. She tells him it is a study of the worlds greatest lovers.   And what is the outcome he asks.

Well the Indian people are the best endowed of men in the world and the Irish are the best lovers. By the way she asks what is your name.  Paddy Pocahontis he replies.

[Geo the Sarge]

Is that the same chap who was chatting up a lass in a bar and asked her out. She replied

"Well actually, I'm a lesbian"

"What's a lesbian?" he asks

"Well, see that blonde girl at the end of the bar, I'd like to take her home and make love to her all night" was her reply.

"Jesus," says he.........

"I must be a lesbian too!!"

[boldie]

Typical of the Civil Servants to get it wrong or ignore their political masters. Gordon Brown apparantly told the Cabinet Secretary that Ms. Smith, who was aggitating for an appointment, that she was a woman whose place should either be in the Home or as a Secretary.

lmao