Am I Being Over Cautious?

[hc4361]

I don't want my family to go our local large shopping mall in the run up to Christmas because of headlines like this and recent events in Nairobi.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2438018/Britain-warns-hate-preacher-recruited-Nairobi-mall-massacre-killers.html

I realise that man is a nutter and the vast majority of Muslims are very decent people but it only takes a handful of nutters to cause carnage.

What do you think?

[viv38]

Yes hc I think you're being over cautious, but understandably so. If we let every nutter put us off doing things though, we'd never go out would we?

[China Doll]

Yes, I'd say so, but there's not much anyone can say to disuade you from it I would think. Personally I already work in the most bombed part of london, commute in everyday and my favourite shopping mall is in Bromley, Blue Water or Westfield - anywhere else just irritates me - and I haven't thought about terrorist attacks. If they're going to attack then there's really not much I can do about it.

Plus I think if you stop doing things you enjoy/want to do because of anxiety about terrorist attacks then they've effectively won - and I'm buggered if 'm letting that happen! ;o)

[Old_Geezer]

Yes. And irrationally so.

Even were these threats to be carried out, which isn't likely, but possible, the chances of you or your family getting caught is vanishingly small. More folk die crossing the road each day (I would suspect).

[hc4361]

You are both right, of course. That's the attitude I had in Birmingham when the IRA were blowing us up. Maybe it's different this time because I have family. Or maybe it's because I'm older.

[mccfluff]

i work in the middle of a very busy retail park, being run over is a very real threat (usually by idiots on their phones) terrorism isn't something i have or will be worried about whilst on my commute or shopping

[sp1814]

You are more likely to die at home than anywhere else.

Also, the bathroom is the most dangerous room in the home.

So...perhaps the best way to keep you and your family safe, is to go to someone else's house...and pee in their garden?

[andy-hughes]

I appreciate your concern, but to avoid places on the basis of terrorist threats allows terrosim to win - which cannot be allowed to happen.

the cahnces of being caught in such a situation are probably less than being kicked to death by a donkey - et al, so shop away - and sod the terrorists!

[ludwig]

If you stay in instead of going to the mall a plane might land on your house.

Just carry on as normal.

[craft1948]

I must admit hc when I read that article I thought "Another good reason for internet shopping"...............which was rather selfish :-(

[mikey4444]

I wouldn't leave the house until every terrorist is tracked down hc...then you can really be sure.

[Peter Pedant]

.

Before the war (er 1939-45) there was a famous question

Are you married or do you live in Nairobi ?

(The Muthaiga Club was a famous knocking shop, they said)

and now you could update it to

Are you going to the Mall or do you live in Nairobi [in which case you wont live very long] - very topical

[Hypognosis]

There's still a lot we don't know about the build up to the Nairobi attack. It is thought that they accumulated weapons and ammunition in a rented unit, over the space of several days. This implies that they were able to sneak individual items past the Mall security guards on a routine basis.

In turn, that suggests that the weapons may have been dismantled into pieces small enough to be carried into the building in small bags or goods containers and not arouse suspicion.

Presumably, the Kenya attitude to guns and building security is more like Britain than the USA and they don't routinely make visitors to shopping centres pass through a metal detector.

I was initially hoping to alleviate any anxieties you might have by suggesting that lax security was to blame and that "they'd never get away with that in this country" but, on second thoughts, that is not only patronising to the Nairobi Mall Security staff but expects miracles from equally under-equipped British security guards.

The previous answers say it all though: you cannot allow these things to dominate your life.

[emmie]

right to be concerned, however it would stop you doing anything,
if you watched the programme last evening about the massacre, then you might have noted that the information given was that four of the Muslim fanatics were wearing burkhas, not women however but blokes, it seems a good ruse to get into places where no one will check, you can hide a weapon, or explosives underneath,
what should one do..... stay at home, that isn't possible, avoid shopping malls, areas, for many that is their treat before Christmas, to do their shopping, take the children out, i won't let it stop me, however i try and not travel on the tube, i don't like it anyway... it makes me feel claustrophobic.

[emmie]

the programme information said some had rented rooms in hotels nearby...
at least that is what i thought they said, and that there is security in place, it doesn't help that the police or security were not wearing a uniform, so one got killed by a soldier when they entered the fray

[ummmm]

I understand your concern. My daughter has just moved to London and I worry.

[emmie]

if she cycles tell her to look out for large sided vehicles, if she is on foot tell her to beware of cyclists... they are more of a menace than almost anything.

[ummmm]

It's alright Emmie. She floats about in her own little bubble...

[emmie]

worse, she will be hit by a running, jogging numpty wearing headphones, or ones who tx and don't look where they are going, smackkkk

[ummmm]

Her younger brothers are going for a visit next week. I'll get them to teach her the green cross code :-)

On a serious note, I'm not happy with her being in London. Like hc...I worry.

I don't know London...she's in Queens Park. Is that good or bad?

[emmie]

perhaps better than being right in the centre.... if anything is going to kick off will be there