Another One For Us Racists

[-Talbot-]

xenophobes
Islamaphobes
to discuss.


https://news.sky.com/story/several-dead-as-vehicle-hits-pedestrians-in-germany-11321054

He may of course just lost control.

[-Talbot-]

Nothing at all puzzling about the OP, FF.
Unless of course you're easily puzzled.

[naomi24]

According to the Telegraph IS has claimed responsibility .... but who knows?

[Prudie]

"I don't think anyone has said if it's a mental health issue then that's all right" FF guess that was partly aimed at me - I can only think you don't read many similar threads when these events occur because that is the impression I have got. There are some posters almost desperate for all these incidents to be laid at the door of mental illness.

[anotheoldgit]

naomi24
/// According to the Telegraph IS has claimed responsibility .... but who knows? ///

Oh dear if that is true it has really upset the apple cart, the BBC stated 3 times that it wasn't being classed as a terrorist attack, but a mentally disturbed German citizen.

The same as some on here they the authorities and the media, seem reluctant to associate any of these murderous attacks with Islam, but seem quite happy to place the blame on mental issues.

Aren't all terrorists mental, Islamic or not?

[ummmm]

Yes, AOG, I think they are.

[vetuste_ennemi]

//I am sure there is an element of ‘copy cat’ about this sort of incident...Easy...Can’t get a gun? Get a van//

A fair point, Ichkeria. We've had Charlottesville in the US, Osbourne here, and now what is probably a "far-right"nutter in Germany all embracing the recently imported idea of vehicular jihad, but applying it to their own local circumstances.

We're all deeply distressed by this ("It's a tragic killing and we need to find ways to stop these events happening").

Now the situation is what it is... part and parcel of ...can't turn back time etc. Just as a theoretical exercise any idea how we got to this pretty pass? As a practical exercise any idea what we can do about it, and how we might formulate policy to prevent it getting worse?

[Zacs-Master]

‘Mental’ is a very derogatory term. To label anyone who shows signs of mental illness as such displays a profound ignorance of the vast range of causes and symptoms.

[naomi24]

^Whatever the causes and whatever the symptoms anyone displaying signs of mental health issues is doing just that. Displaying signs of mental health issues. I don’t see anything to be precious about there.

[Zacs-Master]

I’m criticising the use of the word ‘mental’ to describe anyone with the broad range of mental health issues, not the end result when seen in brainwashed terrorists. Brainwashing in this instance is largely voluntary so not quite the same thing as depression / circumstantial based mental illness.

[naomi24]

I know what you're doing. My point stands.

[Zacs-Master]

My comment was aimed at AOG Naomi. Nothing to do with you prior to my first comment.

[naomi24]

Right .....

[THECORBYLOON]

ANOTHEOLDGIT, all dogs are mammals but it doesn't follow that a mammal must be a dog.

[Gromit]

AOG,
Islamic State claimed responsibility for the Las Vegas shooting, though that was clearly not true. Many ABers were quick to grasp that straw, and believe IS were behind it.
https://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1573956.html

I see the same people again are eagerly taking the word of terrorists and accepting their claims of involement. You are helping them by spreading fear, when all indication are it was an ill person.

[hc4361]

The DM gave the killers name in full last night, definitely a German name.

[fiction-factory]

Prudie- I'd be surprised if anyone has ever said on AB something close to "if it's a mental health issue then that's all right", but if you can give me links to a few examples I'd be interested to see them.
I think there is some scepticism about the way the authorities sometimes cite mental health issues and there are occasionally those who hope the blame can be attributed to mental health issues just as there are some who are keen to point out possible Islamic link ior imply there must be some but the authorities are for some reason deliberately misleading us by denying any evidence of Islamic links
Whatever the reason - Islamic terrorism, right wing extremists, mental health issues- it's tragic, it's extremely worrying because these killings by van seem so easy to do, and we would all hope a way can be found to stop these attacks occuring.

[THECORBYLOON]

"Police said the driver, named locally as Jens Handeln, 48, then killed himself in front of horrified onlookers.

Cops have reportedly found an AK-47 rifle at his home.

Handeln, reportedly a German graphic designer with a history of mental health problems, crashed the grey minibus into families and students sitting outside the popular Grosser Kiepenkerl bar.

German authorities do not believe there is a terrorist motive to the crash although cops searched the driver’s apartment for explosives, reports Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Handeln, a German national and Munster resident, is not believed to have an extremist background."

[anotheoldgit]

THECORBYLOON
/// ANOTHEOLDGIT, all dogs are mammals but it doesn't follow that a mammal must be a
dog. ///

Since it was you who mentioned dogs, all dogs are not vicious, but it is wise to be wary of all dogs, especially those who have got a bad reputation.

[anotheoldgit]

/// Handeln, a German national and Munster resident, is not believed to have an extremist background." ///

Mowing down a number of innocent people, seems pretty extreme to me.

[Zacs-Master]

Background AOG. Extremist BACKGROUND.

What a lot of people don’t seem to comprehend is that atrocities of a non political or terrorist nature will continue to happen. IS will claim responsibility for nearly all of them as it makes it seem as though they are a greater force than they really are.