# Explosions at Manchester Arena (England) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 22, 2017, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243 "2017-05-22T23:17:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/41 "2017-05-23T01:06:33Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Yeah, easy to see how this might happen: 20,000 people flee a concert, dropping whatever bags / packages they might be holding along the way. Authorities arrive on scene and see discarded bag lying on ground, get jumpy because of possibility of multiple explosives, decide it’s better to blow the bag up rather than risk it. Ugh. What a mess. It’s an arena too. Steep slope, with benches, so clearing it will be a bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/42 "2017-05-23T01:11:53Z")
Fuck. Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/43 "2017-05-23T01:12:19Z")
1. The vast majority of Muslims in the world are not terrorists. 2. At the same time, there is more religious terrorism conducted in the name of Islam today than in the name of any other religion on the planet. We shouldn’t act as if Muslims that we encounter in everyday life are terrorists, since it’s 99.9% likely that they aren’t, but we should not pretend that Islam is no different in conduct/actions than Buddhism, Shintoism, Hinduism, Taoism, etc. either. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/44 "2017-05-23T01:21:12Z")
> [@](#): > > Here’s a video in which it’s possible to hear the controlled explosion carried out by Greater Manchester police on a suspicious device in Cathedral gardens, just minutes from the arena. > > Police have since confirmed that the item was abandoned clothing and now not thought to be suspicious. > **[Soldiers on British streets as threat level raised to critical – as it happened](https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/live/2017/may/22/manchester-arena-ariana-grande-concert-explosion-england)** > > Police say attacker died after detonating ‘improvised explosive device’ in foyer of concert hall ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/45 "2017-05-23T01:21:24Z")
As far as I’m concerned terrorist all belong to the same religion. The problem is that it’s a growing religion that appeals to the disaffected everywhere. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/46 "2017-05-23T01:36:21Z")
Aaaaand Trump’s job approval rating just went up to 10% and there’s no more talk of impeachment. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/47 "2017-05-23T01:38:27Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Let’s just wait to see what the investigation comes to. Between the IRA and nutjobs like Tim McVeigh and the Unibomber, there are many possibilities as to who is behind this. Many. Yeah, sure dude. Keep telling yourself that… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/48 "2017-05-23T01:39:36Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Aaaaand Trump’s job approval rating just went up to 10% and there’s no more talk of impeachment. This has nothing to do with Trump nor the USA. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/49 "2017-05-23T01:42:56Z")
I see postings that 60+ kids are safe at a Holiday Inn Express. Waiting for parents to pick them up. I gather Ariana Grande is popular with young fans. Making this attack even more hideous. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/50 "2017-05-23T01:48:16Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > This has nothing to do with Trump nor the USA. Doesn’t stop a certain cohort of cunts, alas. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/51 "2017-05-23T02:00:53Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > As far as I’m concerned terrorist all belong to the same religion. The problem is that it’s a growing religion that appeals to the disaffected everywhere. There are millions of people that are “disaffected” ([discontented and resentful especially against authority](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disaffected)). Almost none of them find any appeal in terrorism, particularly suicide bombing. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/52 "2017-05-23T02:14:04Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > This has nothing to do with Trump nor the USA. Oh, but it does (to a significant some). ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/53 "2017-05-23T02:15:33Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Doesn’t stop a certain cohort of cunts, alas. If it happens here, it will be our equivalent of the Reichstag Fire. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/54 "2017-05-23T02:34:36Z")
[Twitter video from inside the arena, captures audio of the explosion (but no visual)](https://twitter.com/elliefreyax/status/866830824561414145/video/1) ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/55 "2017-05-23T02:40:39Z")
[Jake Tapper says a male has been identified as the probable suicide bomber](https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/866827481059385344). ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/56 "2017-05-23T02:43:39Z")
**Keep the political/religious jabs out of this thread!** Discussing possible suspects based on news info: fine. Maligning entire religions: not fine. Discussing the political implications of this: fine Gratuitous political shots: not fine. > [@asahi](#): > > Aaaaand Trump’s job approval rating just went up to 10% and there’s no more talk of impeachment. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/57 "2017-05-23T02:51:33Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > GMP just stating that there have been 19 deaths, and it is being treated as terrorist incident. That’s per all the UK TV networks. > > A fucking Ariana Grande concert. Jesus fucking christ. Makes sense in a sick way - lots of young kids for maximum outrage. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/58 "2017-05-23T02:59:35Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Yeah, easy to see how this might happen: 20,000 people flee a concert, dropping whatever bags / packages they might be holding along the way. Authorities arrive on scene and see discarded bag lying on ground, get jumpy because of possibility of multiple explosives, decide it’s better to blow the bag up rather than risk it. > > ETA: apparently [it was abandoned clothing](https://twitter.com/gmpolice/status/866816910612103169) But they blew it up, right? Shouldn’t they have realized it was just clothing before they got to the point of a “controlled explosion”? I know, they do this all the time, I’ve just never understood why they blow up things they thought \*might \*be bombs but weren’t. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/59 "2017-05-23T03:14:34Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > I’ve just never understood why they blow up things they thought \*might \*be bombs but weren’t. What else are they going to do with it? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/60 "2017-05-23T03:20:35Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > But they blew it up, right? Shouldn’t they have realized it was just clothing before they got to the point of a “controlled explosion”? I know, they do this all the time, I’ve just never understood why they blow up things they thought \*might \*be bombs but weren’t. Yes, they blew it up. An abandoned backpack I could understand, especially after the Boston Marathon bombing. A discarded sweater or whatever it was? C’mon guys, use your heads, at least a little. But, like I said, everyone is understandably jumpy, and they’re operating out of an abundance of caution. A bit of explosives is relatively cheap, especially when compared with the possibility of additional casualties. Plus, the bomb squad has to earn their keep. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243.md?page=4)