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... and thought it worth sharing:
Guide to Hostile Reconnaissance
Terrorists very often undertake some form of reconnaissance prior
to carrying out an attack. They may do this in vehicles or on foot, recording and documenting locations.
The three main considerations in assessing potential preparatory activity are:
• The likelihood of a venue being targeted
• The extent to which identification of suspects is possible
• The type of suspicious behaviour shown
In this period of heightened alert, it is vital to remain vigilant, trust your instincts and report possible reconnaissance to the police.
Examples of suspicious behaviour include:
• Occupants of stationary vehicles watching a building or structure, for no apparent reason.
• Vehicles moving slowly near public buildings, structures or bridges, or parked in suspicious circumstances
• People using recording equipment, including camera phones, or seen making notes or sketches for no apparent reason
• Attention to specific access/egress areas; stairwells, hallways, fire escapes for no apparent reason
• People loitering at or near premises for long periods, watching patrons, for no apparent reason.
• People asking detailed or unusual questions about buildings and business operations, facilities (such as room layouts), security or parking for no apparent reason
• Members of the public in offices and ‘off limits’ areas, plant rooms and similar locations
Intelligence continues to suggest that crowded places, economic, government, travel, military, aviation, and iconic sites are all seen as potential targets for terrorists.
All of these are to be found in London.
Report any incidents or suspicious activity to your local police station, or the Anti Terrorist Hotline, in an emergency dial 999 quoting
“Operation Lightning”
Please report any incident promptly, as it could be the last act of preparation prior to an attack.
If the person has left the scene, a subsequent report can be made to your local police or by contacting the confidential
Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321
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I for one am living in constant fear...
*ssshh* what was that?
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About to launch a Catwa
Is that cat wearing a cardinal hat?
You have an awful,lot of stationary black Merc S500's parked up near Public Buildings in That London.
Mebbies we should report all of em'
Ha ha. Yes let's mock the Police eh ? Particularly smart right now.
Found one. Now, how do I report her?
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Is that cat wearing a cardinal hat?
No one expects the Spanish inquisition.
Ha ha. Yes let's mock the Police eh ? Particularly smart right now.
It's just freedom of speech innit?
I've got a bad feline about this thread.
About five years ago, when going to a job interview I took a detour into Bishopsgate because I wanted to take a look at "The Gherkin" up close, out of interest.
I noticed that there were a couple of Asian-looking guys examining the building and photographing it on their mobile phone cameras.
On the way back to my interview, I noticed there was a policeman walking his beat. It occurred to me to report the sighting, but then I dismissed that as just being paranoid.
Today, I wouldn't hesitate. Just saying, like...
Today, I wouldn't hesitate.
We all need to search for the hero inside ourselves in these uncertain times. It will reveal the hidden secrets.
• Occupants of stationary vehicles watching a building or structure, for no apparent reason.
That describes most parents in the UK!
Mindless hours sat outside buildings waiting for whatever it is their kids are doing to finish.
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I took a detour into Bishopsgate because I wanted to take a look at "The Gherkin" up close, out of interest.I noticed that there were a couple of Asian-looking guys examining the building and photographing it on their mobile phone cameras
And say what?
"Officer, I went to look at that fancy new building to admire the architecture but there were brown men looking at it too. They must be terrorists"
Not exactly. Probably more like: "I noticed that there were two men of Asian-looking appearance who were taking photographs of The Gherkin and I thought, given the current state of alert, I should report it."
The copper could then have made a value judgement.
EDIT: I agree that I would probably still be being paranoid, but I think now I'd conciously ignore that. Just in case.
The copper could then have made a value judgement.
Which I suspect would be rather more about you than them!
"Officer, I went to look at that fancy new building to admire the architecture but there were brown men looking at it too. They must be terrorists"
Yes, maybe not the brown men bit and replace it with suspicious looking people but they would rather people report things and it amount to nothing than not report it.
The information you give might be the final piece in a puzzle. I spend a lot of time on and off military establishments and they're mega hot on this sort of thing at the moment.
Not exactly. Probably more like: "I noticed that there were two men of Asian-looking appearance who were taking photographs of The Gherkin and I thought, given the current state of alert, I should report it."The copper could then have made a value judgement.
Did they have beards?
Plod could always arrest you for being a bit racist in a public place.
Very public spirited to hand yourself over, though.
suspicious looking people
Just what is suspicious about taking a picture of a landmark? Their skin colour. Awesome.
The copper could then have made a value judgement.
Which I suspect would be rather more about you than them!
That would be fine.
EDIT: However
Yes, maybe not the brown men bit and replace it with suspicious looking people but they would rather people report things and it amount to nothing than not report it.The information you give might be the final piece in a puzzle. I spend a lot of time on and off military establishments and they're mega hot on this sort of thing at the moment.
matt_outandabout - MemberIs that cat wearing a cardinal hat?
No one expects the Spanish [s]inquisition[/s] inkittysition.
FTFY.
Profiling innit?
Forget Asian, just say they had beards, that will raise the threat level a few notches....
I probably wouldn't report it, but it may make me paws (IGMC)
[the old ones are the best ones]
It might be worth checking that the advice posted by the OP is the current advice, and not several years out of date.
[/the old ones are the best ones]
two men of Asian-looking appearance
two of them eh? Would i have been ok if they'd been accompanied by a white man? does this mean there could be a business to be had hiring out white guys to people of suspicious ethnic origin? Awesome. I can see my pitch on Dragons Den now - hireahonkey coz woppit says so.
It might be worth checking that the advice posted by the OP is the current advice, and not several years out of date.
Their website suggests pretty much the same:
http://content.met.police.uk/Article/Security-Advice-and-Information/1400006266952/terrorism
The copper could then [s]have made a value judgement[/s] shot them on site for being a bit foreign looking.
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Forget Asian, just say they had beards, that will raise the threat level a few notches....
Exactly. Everyone knows that terrorists have beards.....Then again so do hipsters.
Maybe they were from Shoreditch?
Then again so do hipsters.
Do you need another excuse to shoot some hipsters?
.Then again so do hipsters.
It'll be a double win then if the MET shoot a few Hipsters as well....
Latest MET training aid, spot the [s]Hipster[/s] terrorist:
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Do you need another excuse to shoot some hipsters?
In my opinion, no. Especially if they're riding fixies with stupidly narrow handlebars.
What's the ratio of brown to beard, I tan easy?
two of them eh? Would i have been ok if they'd been accompanied by a white man?
No.
Begs the question: "What if they had all been white?"
Good question. Hold on, thinks.
I'd still report it.
http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2014/nov/13/lebanese-man-beard-hipster-jihadi-review
Bloody everywhere these terrorist hipsters........
Probably preface it with "It may be nothing, but..."
Begs the question: "What if they had all been white?"Good question. Hold on, thinks.
I'd still report it.
What were they doing that was suspicious? I've got a customer in the Gherkin so have been in there a few times. There are always folks around the place gawking at it and taking pictures etc., so they'd have to be doing something pretty odd for me to considering alerting security.
Mr Woppit - MemberBegs the question: "What if they had all been white?"
Good question. Hold on, thinks.
I'd still report it.
Did you consider reporting yourself, since it seems like you were doing pretty much the same thing as they were?
Mr Woppit - Member
I took a detour into Bishopsgate because I wanted to take a look at "The Gherkin" up close, out of interest.
Were you in a car?
Examples of suspicious behaviour include:
• Occupants of stationary vehicles watching a building or structure, for no apparent reason.
<Dials 999>
What were they doing that was suspicious? I've got a customer in the Gherkin so have been in there a few times. There are always folks around the place gawking at it and taking pictures etc., so they'd have to be doing something pretty odd for me to considering alerting securit
The Met's release asks for it.
If your right about the Gherkin, the copper would have made an informed value judgement and probably just thanked me, then ignored it I would think.
Did you consider reporting yourself, since it seems like you were doing pretty much the same thing as they were?
They probably wouldn't see a country bumkin chewing on a stalk of straw as a serious threat to anyone other than his own sisters. This being on the assumption that Woppit doesn't make it up to the big city much.