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Van plows into crowd in Barcelona, killing 13, injuring over 100; another bomb plot foiled

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Barcelona - a very civilised, cultured city.

Everything butchering, neanderthal religious nutters aren't.

Human rubbish.

23 ( +23 / -0 )

May those who lost their lives and their families be able to have closure at this tough time.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Europe was safer when they had border crossings and passport checks.

11 ( +21 / -10 )

Yet another deadly and disgusting supremacist ideology that has no place in the 21st century.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

To all those murdered/affected by terrorism today, wherever that be, RIP.

Either the conditions that create the ideology are destroyed, or the people who harbour it are.

NHK would be better not to show a Japanese tourist saying she couldn’t get back to the hotel and was "困っている” (Put out, having a hard time because of A,B, or C.)

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Appalling. Disgusting. RIP victims, get well to those injured, condolences to families, friends and any human with the slightest bit of compassion affected by this sick, cowardly act.

Having visited Barcelona and the Ramblas several times and enjoyed watching couples strolling together, I can only imagine someone twisted by the sickest of beliefs would do this. A group that claims it’s religious actually wants to take credit for this butchering of innocent people? That's a pretty clear statement they themselves think their religion is perverted.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Another loss of Innocents that can be added to the death ledger that's as a result of failed us policies. We can't keep pretending the elephant in the room invisible. All this would have been avoided if the true terror sponsers are punished with extreme impunity. But sadly at the end of the day, money will always trump life. What exactly will it take for governments to grow real spines?

0 ( +6 / -6 )

Anyone who would intentionally drive into a crowd of people is beneath scum.  

And so is anyone who would try to rationalize it away.

My heart is heavy with another deadly attack on innocent lives.

18 ( +18 / -0 )

As I stated before I myself am extremely liberal. It's funny when ppl state facts about Islam they are considered Isamaphobs. I did nothing but state facts, people like you that wanna call this a peaceful religion are whats wrong with society today.

What's wrong with society today is that some people come out with blanket comments like "Islam is not adaptable to western society" when what they mean is; "it's not acceptable to me".

Bit of a difference. And I ask you this, as I ask it of all the vocal folk who confuse Islam with terrorism - what would you say to your Muslim friends, colleagues, neighbours?

And nobody seems able to reply.

This won't divide Spain. It didn't before.

-5 ( +9 / -14 )

There should be a mandatory life imprisonment/death penalty, depending on the country, for any terrorist attack or plan for terrorist attack.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

So CNN decides to tell us that this could be a "copycat" of the terrorist attack in Charlottesville. So now they trying to link Radical Islamic Terrorism to that event too.

I don't know how these people sleep at night. Always pushing that narrarive no matter what.

-8 ( +5 / -13 )

Europe was safer when they had border crossings and passport checks.

Dunno tbh. We had ETA, IRA, GIA/IAG, RAF, Action directe, Corsican nationalists and many more terror groups in the 80s-90s before/after internal border controls were abolished. Was pretty wild.

Because of its history as well as geographical position Europe will always be more exposed to terrorism than isolated countries/islands, the new world etc. Sure errors were made (and are still being made) and the threat of terrorism could have been minimised if euro nations had handled things differently (immigration but not only) but I think it's naïve and disingenuous to think Europe could be as safe as NZ, Oz, Japan, Canada or even the US (am talking international terrorism not guns).

Most Islamic terrorists or potential terrorists are already on euro soil and the ones who aren't there yet aren't far. No borders are impenetrable for those willing to kill.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

The terrorists don't care - they are not Muslim

Yes, they are.

This is a violent strain of Islam. The vast majority of Muslims wouldn't commit acts like this but they, and you, have no grounds to say people who carry out acts like this are not Muslims. On what or whose authority can you make that judgement?

We are not going to get to grips with this problem until people, and particularly Muslims, are brutally honest about this. There is a link between belief and action.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

I just don't see how anyone can stop things like this.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

We are not going to get to grips with this problem until people, and particularly Muslims, are brutally honest about this. There is a link between belief and action.

https://muslimscondemn.com/

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/london-attack-imans-no-funeral-prayers-terrorists-refuse-500-muslim-clerics-islam-isis-burial-khuram-a7776861.html

Qari Asim, spokesperson for the BMF and imam of the Leeds Makkah mosque, said: the group aimed to broadcast the message that violent extremism was “forbidden” by Islam.“If you follow this path you are stepping away from Islam to a dark and godless place,” he added. 

“Your views are not welcome in our mosques or in our communities. This is not a path to heaven.”

I'd say that's pretty much a message to the terrorists that actual ordinary Muslims don't consider them part of Islam....

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

I reject any terrorism; be it white supremacists/nazis/Islamists/Irish Republicans/British Loyalists etc.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'd say that's pretty much a message to the terrorists that actual ordinary Muslims don't consider them part of Islam...

On what grounds do these Muslims have the right to say who is or isn't a Muslim? The profession of faith in Islam is there is one god and his messenger is Mohammed. It doesn't include renouncing violence as far as I'm aware.

Your claim was that that people who carry out violence in the name of Islam are not muslims.

Who has the authority to say this?

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Second vehicle terrorist attack in 1 week, the coward's choice.

I wonder if with more software integrated to car systems, cars can be blocked from travelling over a certain speed when in city centres as determined by their GPS, etc. Cars aren't going away, so the only option is to limit where they can enter or limit their operation in certain locations, etc.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I reject any terrorism; be it white supremacists/nazis/Islamists/Irish Republicans/British Loyalists etc.

What does Republican have anything to do with terrorism? What nonsense.

We are not going to get to grips with this problem until people, and particularly Muslims, are brutally honest about this. There is a link between belief and action.

That's just not going to happen, wishful thinking.

-12 ( +0 / -12 )

Your claim was that that people who carry out violence in the name of Islam are not muslims.

Who has the authority to say this?

Yeah kinda convenient to say anyone who commits violence is not a member of your group. Not simply a member of your group anymore, and kicked out. But actually not a member retroactively back to before they committed the violent act.

That line of thinking didnt work last weekend and it shouldnt work now.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Looks like another attack has just happened in Spain.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

and still the left wing socialists running the, UN and EU want everyone to think these terrorists are somehow victims of western civilization and if we just stopped being Westerners, they would stop trying to exterminate everyone

-4 ( +8 / -12 )

and still the left wing socialists running the, UN and EU want everyone to think these terrorists are somehow victims of western civilization and if we just stopped being Westerners, they would stop trying to exterminate everyone.

Bingo! But it looks like it will get worse before it gets better.

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

@brbush Never ending blowback from Syria.

@fredw result of failed us policies.

@blacklab So CNN decides t

Posters who use a tragic event like this (and others) as a platform to push their anti-‘western’ agendas show their level of compassion. Does ‘blowback from Syria’ include Russian, Saudi, Iranian and US involvement? How about ‘failed’ Russian, Saudi and Iranian policies?

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Terrorists moved to cheapest option. Cars and trucks.

There are going to be harder to find and survey.

This is an escalation in the islamist idiocy.

More discrimination will result form this and radicalization will become even more rampant.

Only the islamists and the far right will win from it.

The only thing that can be done for now is going to put concrete obstacles around.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

RIP to all those killed and hopes of recovery for the injured.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Didn't take the orange fruitcake so long to 'get the facts' this time and start tweeting about it.

compare reaction to Charlottsville v's Barcelona.

SAD!!!

7 ( +10 / -3 )

Any ideology or religion that somewhere in it's fabric has a notion of division, separation, exclusion, exclusivity is deeply flawed and acts not as a constructive, humanist bonding agent, but a wedge between people who should all be able to recognise and see their commonality before anything else.

It's Stone Age tribalism and superstition that means people tend to see others as Christians, or Muslims, or Catholics, or Protestants, or Shias, or Sunnis, or Hindus, or Jews or whatever first, and people second.

And apart from the incredibly faulty logic at play in the heart of these belief system, that is deeply flawed social standard that continues to divide us.

I try to be tolerant of people's beliefs, despite my exasperation of them, but when people do things like this, I find it very, very difficult to abide.

I am well travelled, widely travelled. I've been to most corners of the earth. I'm experienced, tolerant, calm, circumspect, considerate. But this is truly revolting. And I wonder, as a species, how long does it last? Another 1000 years? When do we evolve beyond it? When do these beliefs become obsolete to us? Will they ever?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Latest reports of a foiled second attack, and some terrorists blowing themselves up in a house in a third town.

Thoughts with all affected.

@kabukideath

Europe was safer when they had border crossings and passport checks

Still does. Try getting on a plane from Japan to Europe (or a ferry from Africa to Europe, or a bus from Instanbul to Bulgaria, or a train from Russia to Poland) without your passport and let us know how far you get.

@blacklabel

Never ending blowback from Syria

Nothing to do with Iraq?

@jimizo

On what grounds do these Muslims have the right to say who is or isn't a Muslim?

You may be right that they don't, in any official sense - I'm sure radical Islamists wouldn't recognise their right to. But the Makka mosque in Leeds (my hometown, as it happens) is very active in speaking against radical Islam - the quote from them above isn't going to stop already-radical Islamists in their tracks, but I don't think that's the intended audience.

@bass

What does Republican have anything to do with terrorism? What nonsense.

Good lord that's a hell of a knee jerk defensive reaction. Read it again man, he said 'Irish Republican' not 'US Republican' i.e. the IRA, very much a terrorist organisation.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Posters who use a tragic event like this (and others) as a platform to push their anti-‘western’ agendas show their level of compassion.

We both can agree on that.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

You may be right that they don't, in any official sense - I'm sure radical Islamists wouldn't recognise their right to. But the Makka mosque in Leeds (my hometown, as it happens) is very active in speaking against radical Islam - the quote from them above isn't going to stop already-radical Islamists in their tracks, but I don't think that's the intended audience.

With all due respect to the Makka mosque, all mosques should be destroying the ideas of radical Islam non-stop. Unfortunately, 'preachers' spreading division and hatred have popped up all too frequently in UK mosques.

My point is denying that Islamic terrorism has something to do with Islam is exasperating and dangerous. When yet another jihadi goes on a rampage, the approach of saying "He isn't a Muslim. No problem here. Move along and stop making islamophobic comments" isn't really moving us forward.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

My point is denying that Islamic terrorism has something to do with Islam is exasperating and dangerous

That isn't why Muslim community leaders in the UK make the kind of comment quoted above. They're not hiding from the problem (they're very well aware they have one, and wish to keep their young men out of it) - rather, this is how they drill it into their congregations not to go down that route and become part of the problem.

the approach of saying "He isn't a Muslim. No problem here. Move along and stop making islamophobic comments"

Again, put another way - the point isn't "stop making Islamic comments", the point is - directed at young Muslim men - if you become an Islamic terrorist, you're not a true Muslim. It's a preventative measure.

@Blacklabel

trying to say this attack was a copycat of the Charlottesville attack

Other way around really, isn't it - the white supremacist terrorist appears to have copycatted the radical Islamist terrorists. As ironic as that is, I am completely unsurprised by it, being as they are opposite sides of the same idiotic coin.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Very Trumpian - you insist that we can only judge the motives of the Charlottesville murderer once proven in court. But do you apply the same standard to these murderers in Spain today?

2 ( +3 / -1 )

this may sounds conspiracy but the timing of these 'terrorist' attacks smell rather fishy.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

If I started a fight with terrorists, technically you could say that we're both violent.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Condolences and thoughts with all the families.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Vehicle Rental outlets are going to shortly be faced with a tough choice. Do they refuse to rent vehicles to people based upon ethnicity and then be accused of racism, or do they simply rent out to anyone and be accused of supplying a lethal weapon ? Though choices ahead.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Trump in one of his not commenting before he has the facts mode:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/17/donald-trump-barcelona-reaction-general-pershing-myth

*Donald Trump has responded to the Barcelona attack by reviving an already debunked anecdote about a US general dipping bullets in pig’s blood to fight Islamic militants more than a hundred years ago.*

“Study what General Pershing of the United States did to terrorists when caught. There was no more Radical Islamic Terror for 35 years!”*
4 ( +4 / -0 )

What does Republican have anything to do with terrorism? What nonsense.

He was referring to IRISH Republicans.... as in IRA. Try using your eyes!

I don't see it mentioned but after the van attack police shot men in suicide belts in a car attack not far from the first attack.

Hours later, a second attack took place in the town of Cambrils

In the second attack, a gang wearing suicide belts rammed civilians with a car before being shot dead by police

Seven people, including a police officer, were injured in the attack

Four of the attackers were shot dead at the scene and a fifth died later of his injuries

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'd say that's pretty much a message to the terrorists that actual ordinary Muslims don't consider them part of Islam....

Perhaps, but there is something missing from the Imam's words. Something like, "Ordinary muslims don't commit murder because they know the texts we teach from are not to be taken seriously."

Sadly, western politicians won't say this either. What we see too often after these attacks is a political leader surrounded by a group of religious leaders (a Christian priest or minister, a Rabbi, an Imam, a Sikh, a Hindu, whatever), and muttering words along the lines of "true believers are peaceful". I'm still waiting for the day when a political leader tells us that we aren't meant to believe their holy texts, and that being a true believer is insanity.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Spain has had a long history of war with Islam-this won't be the last incident ......

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Perhaps, but there is something missing from the Imam's words. Something like, "Ordinary muslims don't commit murder because they know the texts we teach from are not to be taken seriously."

That would be a wonderful thing to hear, but that imam could very possibly find himself on a hitlist.

I think the day imams around the world could feel comfortable saying that certain verses must be ignored will be a great day for peace.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Other way around really, isn't it - the white supremacist terrorist appears to have copycatted the radical Islamist terrorists.

Neither. In Charlottesville, it was an unstable man (possibly medicated) who freaked out when people around him started shouting "Nazi!" and pelting his car. I do not think he planned on attacking anyone.

The car attacks in Europe are clearly premedidated, with the intent to kill as many people as possible.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

What's wrong with society today is that some people come out with blanket comments like "Islam is not adaptable to western society" when what they mean is; "it's not acceptable to me".

Bit of a difference. And I ask you this, as I ask it of all the vocal folk who confuse Islam with terrorism - what would you say to your Muslim friends, colleagues, neighbours?

I think Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris, and Bill Maher have already answered those points.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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