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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.
I think the copper would have twigged you were a Jihadist trying to throw him off the scent and just shot you there and then.
What's the ratio of brown to beard, I tan easy?
Someone must have worked out a formula to spot potential terrorists.
(Amount of beard * lack of fashion sense - skin colour) x (carrying rucksack - riding a fixie * looking shifty - Not in shoreditch) = chance of danger
Googles 'muslim hipster on fixie'
and this is your identikit terrorist image:
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(Amount of beard * lack of fashion sense - skin colour) x (carrying rucksack - riding a fixie * looking shifty - Not in shoreditch) = chance of danger
I was in Shoreditch at the weekend so how did I score:
Amount of beard: Weekends worth of stubble
Lack of Fashion Sense: Oh yes - I'm at IT consultant in my 40's
Skin Colour: Day-glo white (I'm half-Scottish)
Carrying Rucksack: Surprisingly for me, no for a change
Looking shifty: Quite often - my wife and daughter were in a mood to shop so I did a lot of lurking about waiting for them
[i]I think the copper would have twigged you were a Jihadist trying to throw him off the scent and just shot you there and then. [/i]
I'm sure there's someone on here from the Met.
"Hello Officer. My name's MrWoppit"
*bang*
"Hello Officer. My name's MrWoppit"*bang*
They'd have had him at "Hello"
A while ago I used to see a few suspicious types on my way home from work.
Three or four young "Asian" looking men. Full muslamic beards, full desert pattern camouflage fatigues and combat boots. I think one of them even had a Taliban floppy hat.
They used to meet up together an wander off somewhere.
I did briefly wonder about informing "the authorities", but then realised they were all a bit too Tooting Popular Front. I guess real terrorists would try and draw less attention to themselves.
Mind you, I haven't seen them for about a year. So perhaps they've ben looked up in Paddington Green, or gone of to Syria or something.
I was in Shoreditch at the weekend so how did I score:
Amount of beard: Weekends worth of stubble
Lack of Fashion Sense: Oh yes - I'm at IT consultant in my 40's
Skin Colour: Day-glo white (I'm half-Scottish)
Carrying Rucksack: Surprisingly for me, no for a change
Looking shifty: Quite often - my wife and daughter were in a mood to shop so I did a lot of lurking about waiting for them
10-15% chance of being a Jihadi.
Woppitt - get out there, a super hero like you's no good on here we need you at the sharp end, sweeping the trash from the streets.
10-15% chance of being a Jihadi.
Does not having a fixie lower or raise my score? I will admit to owning a singlespeed but never, ever ride it.
(Amount of beard * lack of fashion sense - skin colour) x (carrying rucksack - riding a fixie * looking shifty - Not in shoreditch) = chance of danger
No beard, no fixie but often score in all the others. Resulted in 2 stop and searches. 😕 One nice and polite one, and the other extremely aggressive with the copper yelling in my face claiming I had a fuel can of petrol. (I had a water bottle of ...water!).
Never going to grow a beard in case Woppitt spots me somewhere near a building.
I know where you live.
No beard, no fixie but often score in all the others. Resulted in 2 stop and searches.
I don't meet the typical criteria for a stop and search these days but I did when I was younger, the IRA were the terrorist threat and I used to travel to Ireland regularly. I got stopped quite often in those days.
Damn - will have to get a fake beard so he doesn't spot me... oh wait
I don't meet the typical criteria for a stop and search these days but I did when I was younger, the IRA were the terrorist threat and I used to travel to Ireland regularly. I got stopped quite often in those days.
SWYDT!
Does not having a fixie lower or raise my score? I will admit to owning a singlespeed but never, ever ride it.
Raises it. Terrorists never ride fixies, as the chance of back pedalling when escaping is too much to risk.
Raises it. Terrorists never ride fixies, as the chance of back pedalling when escaping is too much to risk.
But surely the narrow handlebars would help cutting through the traffic when making your escape. Although trying to pedal with your sisters jeans on might slow things down.
So faux fixies with freewheels then. That's it. Round 'em up now
But surely the narrow handlebars would help cutting through the traffic when making your escape. Although trying to pedal with your sisters jeans on might slow things down.
It's a trade-off Steve. You might blend in more wearing girls jeans and carrying a satchel, but for performance you really want a rucksack and something more comfortable.
It's a trade-off Steve. You might blend in more wearing girls jeans and carrying a satchel, but for performance you really want a rucksack and something more comfortable.
You appear to know too much about this subject so I suspect someone public minded will be in the process of making a report...
Hi.
hireahonkey coz woppit says so.
Sorry completely misread that.
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There are real terrorists and hollywood movie terrorists, only the latter carry out a recon and take photos.....
See http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2008/jun/05/news.terrorism
The 9/11 terrorists didn't photograph anything. Nor did the London transport bombers, the Madrid bombers, or the liquid bombers arrested in 2006. Timothy McVeigh didn't photograph the Oklahoma City Federal Building. The Unabomber didn't photograph anything; neither did shoe-bomber Richard Reid. Photographs aren't being found amongst the papers of Palestinian suicide bombers. The IRA wasn't known for its photography.
Terrorists taking pictures is a quintessential detail in any good movie. Of course it makes sense that terrorists will take pictures of their targets. They have to do reconnaissance, don't they? We need 45 minutes of television action before the actual terrorist attack -- 90 minutes if it's a movie -- and a photography scene is just perfect. It's our movie-plot terrorists that are photographers, even if the real-world ones are not.
You appear to know too much about this subject so I suspect someone public minded will be in the process of making a report...
I am part of the AHJFIU (Anti Hipster Jihadi Fashion Intelligence Unit)
We're a small unit, but in high demand across East London.
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Is this what they mean by Operation Lightning? If so, I'm really scared now.
There are real terrorists and hollywood movie terrorists, only the latter carry out a recon and take photos.....
Those Shoreditch hipster terrorists might, but they'd definitely do it in black and white, probably using a medium format Lomo.
Three or four young "Asian" looking men. Full muslamic beards, [b]full desert pattern camouflage fatigues and combat boots[/b]. I think one of them even had a Taliban floppy hat.They used to meet up together an wander off somewhere.
I did briefly wonder about informing "the authorities", but then realised they were all a bit too Tooting Popular Front. I guess real terrorists would try and draw less attention to themselves.
[b]Mind you, I haven't seen them for about a year[/b]
Maybe they've upgraded their camouflage and are still there. Watching you and waiting.
Maybe they've upgraded their camouflage and are still there. Watching you and waiting.
Nope. They'll be holidaying in a nice resort in Cuba, guests of our American friends.
I'd use a large format view camera. Better for getting the perspective correct on these difficult building photos. Obviously I would need a massive tripod and thus would need a trailer to carry all this.
So hipster, on a faux fixie with a trailer...?
So hipster, on a faux fixie with a trailer...?
Needs shooting for sure - terrorist or not.
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here you go. Whoever owns this is guilty for sure. Own up then.
(Surly with a trailer...... must be someone here 😉 )
I'd use a large format view camera.
which helps to hide the beard. Clever.
The cynic in me reckons that the MET just reckon they can jump on the back of the French incident and raise the threat level to help push through some more anti-freedom legislation e.g. making it illegal to have a mobile phone with more than a single digit pin code or mandatory DNA testing for all non white people...