Terrorism, again.
A small fire in a white bucket becomes something more sinister
A bright sunny September morning, and I am on my way to work. I take the train, getting off one station early to walk across Vauxhall Bridge. The light was lovely, crisp and clear with a touch of golden warmth.
On days like this, the walk into work can be quite beautiful.
At work, I find that there’s been a small explosion on the District Line, on the Wimbledon branch. That’s the way I go when it’s raining. Or I’m feeling a bit lazy.
It hasn’t made the news yet, but there are some photos on Twitter of a small fire in a white bucket. It looks as though some builders’ plaster has accidentally caught fire.
Seriously? They shut down the District Line because of a small fire in a bucket?
Everybody thinks it’s quite ridiculous.
The news breaks, and we discover that something did explode, and 29 people have been injured. The burning bucket is now upgraded to an IED (improvised explosive device). The police and security services are undertaken a full investigation; people in the immediate area have been evacuated and those a little further out are being told to stay indoors.
So it’s terrorism. Again.
It has not been a good year for terrorist attacks. The first one in London happened not far from work. This one was closer to home. As in three tube stations away, at Parsons Green. It’s a little odd to see these ordinary quiet streets that I pass on the tube into work appear on the national news.
There’s a strange dislocation whenever anything like this happens. After all, most people do not spend much time worrying about terrorism. It’s not a thing that anyone expects will happen to them, or to their local neighbourhood. They’re too busy thinking about whether they’re going to be late to pick their children up from school, or the presentation they have to give at work or what box set to watch next.
People have nothing but praise (and tea and refreshments) for the police, the emergency services and tube staff, although the tea and refreshments are also on offer for anyone stranded in the area.
As for terrorists? Sadly, some people are idiots.
And unfortunately, there’s a certain class of idiot that’s attracted to extreme political ideologies like bees to honey. And the best anyone can do is try to get to them before they become a danger to themselves and other people.
There’ll be a brief spike of outrage and media comment, but for those of us who are not directly affected by the aftermath of such events, all we can do is keep calm and carry on.
The Storyteller on the District Line — №4
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But not only out of morbid curiosity, I hope!
