# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/141 "2017-05-23T21:40:03Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > ISIS has already taken credit for the bombing this morning. However it not yet verified if they actually orchestrated it or are taking credit now. > > [Manchester attack: What we know so far - BBC News](http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-40008389) Well then, it just reinstates my previous post. And in now way am I saying ALL muslims are terrorists, but certainly almost all global terrorists appear to be muslims. Keep it up Europe. I’m Dutch and the entire continent will resemble a warzone if we keep this nonsense up :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Esco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@Esco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esco)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/142 "2017-05-23T21:41:55Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > I know that. Which is why I said: > > However its not yet verified if they actually orchestrated it or are taking credit now Denizen, have you tried common sense in your life?? Just a suggestion ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/143 "2017-05-23T21:57:46Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > There was an emergency services exercise in Manchester last year, but it wasn’t at the Arena, but at the Trafford shopping centre. Twitter gets way too febrile when shit is happening. > > The video of the exercise linked in this article is, err, quite dramatic. > [Police chief says Trafford Centre terror drill was a success, but 'we have learned lessons' - Manchester Evening News](http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/terrorist-training-exercise-success-police-11327800) A friend’s son took part in this as one of the casualties. He took off his artificial limbs and had his stumps painted bloody. Realism, yeah. ---
**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, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/144 "2017-05-23T22:30:51Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > There was an emergency services exercise in Manchester last year, but it wasn’t at the Arena, but at the Trafford shopping centre. Twitter gets way too febrile when shit is happening. > > The video of the exercise linked in this article is, err, quite dramatic. > [Police chief says Trafford Centre terror drill was a success, but 'we have learned lessons' - Manchester Evening News](http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/terrorist-training-exercise-success-police-11327800) Thanks for sharing the link. That video was eerie given the events of last night. It was significantly more realistic than the events that I’d participated in before. I shook my head at this part: > [@](#): > > GMP issued an apology after the ‘bomber’ shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ when detonating his device. > > But Mr Hopkins said: “The religious phrase that was used and caused offence was not scripted and did not involve any police officer or GMP employee. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/145 "2017-05-23T22:32:32Z")
Every arena I have been to lately do not allow purses or backpacks & diaper bags are only allowed if you have the kid with you and they have metal detectors. I read it was full of nails and bolts, so it must have been sizable. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/146 "2017-05-23T22:36:42Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > Every arena I have been to lately do not allow purses or backpacks & diaper bags are only allowed if you have the kid with you and they have metal detectors. I read it was full of nails and bolts, so it must have been sizable. IIRC, he detonated it just outside the area right as throngs of people were leaving. ---
**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, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/147 "2017-05-23T22:39:31Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > Every arena I have been to lately do not allow purses or backpacks & diaper bags are only allowed if you have the kid with you and they have metal detectors. I read it was full of nails and bolts, so it must have been sizable. The explosion wasn’t in the arena as such, more at the foyer/parental-pick-up zone. :o ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/148 "2017-05-23T22:44:44Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#): > > Every arena I have been to lately do not allow purses or backpacks & diaper bags are only allowed if you have the kid with you and they have metal detectors. I read it was full of nails and bolts, so it must have been sizable. Walked into the area outside the security cordon, in my guess. No matter how big you make the security checkpoint, there’s always going to be a crowd outside of it. Not to mention that I think the security to get into the arena, post-show, is going to be a lot less strenuous than the security to get into the arena before the show starts. Temperature for Manchester was around [10-13C at about 10 to 11PM](https://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/EGCC/2017/5/22/DailyHistory.html?req_city=Manchester&req_state=&req_statename=United%20Kingdom&reqdb.zip=00000&reqdb.magic=53&reqdb.wmo=03334). Cool enough that a guy wearing a coat isn’t going to stand out. Pack suicide vest on body, wear coat over it, no big deal. It’s dark, and not like people are going to notice one more guy wearing a coat. Especially if he gets dropped off near the arena by a helper, as is often the case with suicide bombers. How much weight could you carry on a vest under a coat? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/149 "2017-05-23T22:59:04Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Daily Mail article claims it was before. I would hope that due to the gravity of the “four hours before” implication, they would have checked. They don’t link to the message (or maybe it was deleted) so who knows. You appear not to be familiar with the Daily Mail. Also, [this.](https://www.google.com/amp/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4532662/amp/ISIS-fans-celebrate-Manchester-terror-attack.html) Link to Daily Mail actually correcting their account. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/150 "2017-05-23T23:37:14Z")
Ugh I guess nowhere is safe ☹ ---
**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, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/151 "2017-05-23T23:41:39Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Not to mention that I think the security to get into the arena, post-show, is going to be a lot less strenuous than the security to get into the arena before the show starts. This was my guess. I don’t know how they handle security at events in the U.K., but here in the States, it’s not uncommon to have metal detectors and pat-downs for the crowd going _into_ a sporting event / concert, but they clear all that out at the end when everyone is leaving to expedite the process. When I first heard that he struck at the end of the concert, I guessed that he waited until they threw the doors open at the end to ease the flow of people out of the arena, pushed his way into the middle of the crowd, and ka-boom. > [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > Especially if he gets dropped off near the arena by a helper, as is often the case with suicide bombers. How much weight could you carry on a vest under a coat? I don’t have any information on how he arrived at the arena, but given that it’s basically connected to the public transit network, it’s also possible he rode the train there. ---
**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 24, 2017, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/152 "2017-05-24T00:16:16Z")
> [@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. They’ll figure it out soon enough, until then let’s just hope the medical professionals can keep any more from dying. …You were saying…? ---
**Author:** ![up\_the\_junction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f1d935/32.png) [@up\_the\_junction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/up_the_junction)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/153 "2017-05-24T00:30:01Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > How much weight could you carry on a vest under a coat? Hugely unlikely to have anything strapped to him. It was almost certainly peroxide based, and in liquid form in a back pack. All recent attacks around Europe have a similar homemade nature, even if the attacked didn’t make it himself. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/154 "2017-05-24T00:41:57Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > … I don’t have any information on how he arrived at the arena, but given that it’s basically connected to the public transit network, it’s also possible he rode the train there. Apparently some unnamed US official has leaked that [he traveled from London by train](http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/manchester-attack-suicide-bomber-travelled-by-train-to-victoria-station-before-killing-himself-and-a3545876.html). I have no idea how credible the _Evening Standard_ is. I’d never heard of it until a minute ago. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/155 "2017-05-24T00:57:33Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > …You were saying…? What are YOU saying? That we should have based our assumptions on some nebulous “common sense” (which for some people, is just racism) and run with it before having all the facts? It seems quite reasonable to me to not discuss and point fingers at immigrants or Islam AT LEAST until we know for sure it’s relevant. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/156 "2017-05-24T01:39:20Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > What are YOU saying? That we should have based our assumptions on some nebulous “common sense” (which for some people, is just racism) and run with it before having all the facts? It seems quite reasonable to me to not discuss and point fingers at immigrants or Islam AT LEAST until we know for sure it’s relevant. Exactly. I remember being at a conference and getting the news about the Oklahoma city bombing & everyone was sure it was “Iranian terrorists”. ---
**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 24, 2017, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/157 "2017-05-24T01:55:08Z")
Iranians havent been terrorists. They might take over an embassy but they arent homicide/suicide bombers. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/158 "2017-05-24T01:57:41Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > Iranians havent been terrorists. They might take over an embassy but they arent homicide/suicide bombers. Yeah, the speculation at the time was Islamic Arab terrorists, as well, as in the 1993 WTC attack. I don’t recall anything about Iranians. Iraqis, maybe. ---
**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 24, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/159 "2017-05-24T02:04:19Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > …You were saying…? So? This is the process. Just because it looks like it was an Islamic terrorist attack doesn’t justify assuming it was, or assuming any future incidents are. ---
**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 24, 2017, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243/160 "2017-05-24T02:09:09Z")
The irony here is Libya was one of the West’s better efforts. The Libyan militias did most of the heavy fighting. The West provided supplies & air power. IIRC no significant Western troops were deployed in Libya. Libya’s new government is finding their own way now. The West isn’t interfering AFAIK. So why would a guy with family from Libya want to blow up a bunch of Western kids? What did we ever do to him? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/explosions-at-manchester-arena-england/787243.md?page=9)