This morning I saw this poster shared by the Hampshire Police:
“It’s probably nothing but…If you see anything suspicious don’t take a chance. Contact the anti-terrorist hotline 0800 789 321.”
It’s probably nothing but…If you see anything suspicious don’t take a chance. Contact the anti-terrorist hotline 0800789321. pic.twitter.com/Y27H1R6VbM
— Hampshire Police (@HantsPolice) May 24, 2017
My teenage son and I had a chat this morning about the current terrorist threat. He reminded me that his previous school trip a year ago to Belgium had to be rescheduled due to the Paris attacks, affecting their trip to Belgium. A few months afterwards they finally visited Belgium, and a week after their return, Belgium was under attack.
We all know by now the British government has raised the terror threat level to critical, for the first time in ten years, in the wake of the attack on Manchester Arena on Monday. (May: ‘A further attack may be imminent’ – BBC News)
What do the British Threat Levels mean to you?
In social media, the #BritishThreatLevels hashtag has shown a mix of humour, wit, satire, and, some of you might consider, Britishness.
Here are a few examples:
We’re a bit low on cat food.#BritishThreatLevels pic.twitter.com/3hEt1RwFKB
— Curious Zelda (@CuriousZelda) May 24, 2017
Weak tea. #britishthreatlevels pic.twitter.com/mV77GsbkFz
— Helen Melon (@helenwheeliker) May 24, 2017
This. 👎 #BritishThreatLevels pic.twitter.com/DHdB0pL6v9
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) May 24, 2017
#BritishThreatLevels: Brits respond with humor to rise in official terrorism warning https://t.co/MYrK1aW8dd pic.twitter.com/5xeLdhtpIg
— JD (@durgapal) May 24, 2017
#BritishThreatLevels reminds me of this great security level joke by @JohnCleese. Please note tea supplies have never run out. pic.twitter.com/kms7ENyKXm
— Timothy Snow (@SnowytheDoggie) May 24, 2017
#BritishThreatLevels you’ve already said “thanks” “cheers” and “tah” after someones held 3 doors open for you and have run out of words
— Harry Spindler (@harryspindle) May 24, 2017
Suddenly remembering that you made a cup of tea 30 minutes ago and then downing it in one lukewarm go. #BritishThreatLevels
— James Melville (@JamesMelville) May 24, 2017
Running out of butter and having to choose between one very buttery crumpet or two inadequately buttered crumpets #BritishThreatLevels
— Phil G (@PhilipGrainger) May 24, 2017
#BritishThreatLevels
We’re British, you don’t scare us until you raise the threat level to: “The only tea we have is Lipton.”— Laura Knight (@lauraknight888) May 24, 2017
Close to anarchy at times #BritishThreatLevels pic.twitter.com/kJfidIEMrf
— Mr. Tickle (@MrTickle3) May 24, 2017
The person behind you in the supermarket doesn’t put a ‘next customer’ sign between your shopping and theirs #BritishThreatLevels
— Sarah Bibby (@SarahBibby) May 24, 2017
#BritishThreatLevels Someone going in for a second kiss on the other cheek.
— Andrea Mann 👍 (@AndreaMann) May 24, 2017
“Tell everyone your name and one interesting thing about yourself.”#BritishThreatLevels
— Larry the Cat (@Number10cat) May 24, 2017
British Stages of response to a terrorist attack:
-Shock
-Sadness
-Anger
-Kindness
-Mocking terrorists#BritishThreatLevels— Charley Hasted (@CharleyHasted) May 24, 2017
Being a law-abiding citizen but still approaching airport security like this #BritishThreatLevels pic.twitter.com/bgUw5vnccr
— KtotheOC (@Ktothe_OC) May 24, 2017
Seeing David Attenborough trending #BritishThreatLevels pic.twitter.com/RvRsJVEeIu
— Logical Campaign (@LogicalCampaign) May 24, 2017
I’m reminded by my son (by the way, he is doing GCSE History this year) that the British are resilient, as they had gone through many wars in history, and these tweets are a reflection of people’s strength, and their comtempts to the attackers.
What do the #BritishThreatLevels mean to you?
Two things struck me about this bombing. The young victims would not dream of bombing innocent children so why did the bomber think of it. He didn’t, someone taught him. Who? His local community and those in Libya. There are schools, called madrassas, some of which teach this sort of thing.
Then a member of his mosque was interviewed and he knew nothing of the radicalisation whereas others in the mosque knew about it and so did many other people. Are some in the mosque turning a blind eye?
Troops on the street? That is just to make the government look tough. It is the quiet, behind the scenes work that is preventing attacks.
What will I do? Keep my eyes and ears open.