Tanks Guarding Heathrow Airport!!

[Charlie]

Man what's it coming to. Apparently there are real and specific threats of a rocket attack.

I'm gutted.

EDIT: Apparently they considered shutting down the airport,
The PM said "this is too serious to play around with".

[ 02-11-2003, 05:06 PM: Message edited by: Charlie ]

[Melusine]

Oh no! Where did you hear this Charlie? I hope everything will turn out well!
Be safe my friend.

[Horatio]

Mesuline, its been all over Brit news.

My friend's coming back from Singapore in three days...hope he's ok...

[Melusine]

Originally posted by Horatio: Melusine, its been all over Brit news. My friend's coming back from Singapore in three days...hope he's ok...

Horatio, I know about the tanks. I check BBC news regularly... I just hadn't heard talk about shutting down the airport. That must mean the threat is very tangible...

Edit: I flew from Glasgow a couple of days ago. I don't know if there's a connection but the security sure had tightened. My bags were searched in and out (my main luggage on the way there, my purse and cabin luggage on the way back). I've flown the same route several times last year, but the security was never as strict as it was now. They checked passports more seriously too, no quick glance-overs.

[ 02-11-2003, 05:30 PM: Message edited by: Melusine ]

[wellard]

Goodness Charlie

Dont tell me there has been another robbery. How much this time 1/2 a billion in bullion

but sadly I have to confirm that security at airports has Genuinely been increased not just at the public face of things, but behind the scenes where it has previously been a joke. In Australia as we type they are bringing in eye detectors for pilots and cabin crew. I have no doubt that within the next year or two it will be for engineers like me too. Even the milk and bread trucks for our staff canteens are given an escort on and off the base. Every 2 years we submit to a scan of our background with the fedral police and interpol.

[Yorick]

Originally posted by Charlie: Man what's it coming to. Apparently there are real and specific threats of a rocket attack. I'm gutted. EDIT: Apparently they considered shutting down the airport, The PM said "this is too serious to play around with".

Stuff!

[Masklinn]

In Paris, from time to time, we can see some soldiers patrolling in the subway and in railway stations.
But...tanks...must be impressive and, I admit, a bit scary...

*shiver*

[wellard]

IIRC the IRA (remember them) used a morter to bomb heathrow and downing street back in the early 90's. I guess it was probably a similar threat.

[Donut]

Originally posted by wellard: IIRC the IRA (remember them) used a morter to bomb heathrow and downing street back in the early 90's. I guess it was probably a similar threat.

It's far more serious. It's believed that they want to bring down a jet using a missile. A similar attack took place in Mombasa a few months ago. Police and army are stationed at villages along the flightpath west of Heathrow. All commercial vehicles are being searched, layby's are being closed and car parks emptied. The Government claim that the threat is on a par with the Sept 11th attack.

[quietman1920]

Hello. Please excuse me...simple American here. I guess I need a qualification on something please. I realize that I don't understand all of the security measures and armaments at Heathrow, nor was I meant to. I guess I'm just trying to understand what protection a tank would be to stop a rocket/mortar attack.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I'd think a Chieftain's gun turret would be a Tad Too Slow to catch an incoming round/missile even if the the gunner was Amazingly Acurate and fast on the trigger. Now if they parked anti-missile batteries, I guess I could see it. Or am I missing something here? I'd hate to think someone's taking complex problems and applying PS2 solutions towards them.