What would happen if a major terrorist attack struck your city?

Be it Dublin, Cork, wherever.

We know from some very old news articles that Ireland has an Emergency plan to deal with a nuclear attack, but we don't seem to know what's in it.

Imagine all all of the main communication modes (TV, radio, internet and phones) are down, either because of the attack or because of congestion. How difficult would that be to do? (neither asking for myself nor for a friend). That would mean no system in place for us to know what is happening via our smartphones, and maybe laptops or even radios. I'm not even sure the Luas or the Dart would work.

I started thinking about this because I was waiting for the Luas yesterday, and there was a public service announcement. That's a good way to reach a large number of Dublin's citizens, anyway. Dart-station announcements are another (presumably, if they worked, they'd tell people where to take shelter -- but do we even have working shelters? I only know of one, built for the Government in Merrion Square Park, and it is probably now redundant. )

Does Ireland, in general, have a plan in order to communicate with large volumes of people? Do the radio and TV stations have plans for this?

In Dublin, of all places, we know how crucial communication hubs can be to terrorist attacks -- after all, it was the GPO, the main information exchange of its day, which was the epicentre of the Easter Rising.

I am not a paranoid person, but I do think it's only a matter of time before terrorists, of whatever bent or hue, become sufficiently sophisticated to attempt a systematic attack on communications and then on individuals. Dublin will hardly be a target, nor any Irish city including Belfast, but still, it's useful to consider how prepared we might be, and what might be our weaknesses.

Rufeo

The troubles

Conall Cernach

I live in Monaghan where there was a major terrorist attack 35 years ago that killed 5 people on the day with another 2 dying of their injuries weeks later. The government and Gardai of the day brushed it under the carpet.

kneemos

In the movies they generally start walking.

Might give that a go.

Signore Fancy Pants

Dublin is the Regional hub for so many multinational tech and finance companies.

It could be a legitimate target for the purpose of disrupting these companies without the need to strike their country or origin.

Autosport

I'm safe enough out in the countryside but I might house a few of ye

Lemsiper

I live in NYC.

Autosport

Autosport wrote: »

I'm safe enough out in the countryside but I might house a few of ye

Thanks, Mr Tom.

Odyssey 2005

So long as they didnt damage Jamse's Gate....and the internet.

Salthillprom

Every local authority, Garda division and HSE area has a major emergency plan and those plans would be activated.

Richard Hillman

We'd light lots of candles, politicians will be jumping over themselves to see who can sound the most virtuess, lots of hash tags and of course the nonsensical phrase of "Diversity is our strength". They'd be in their element.

Lil Sally Anne Jnr.

Who gives a phuck. Did you not see the crisp thread.

Ten of Swords

AGS have done two highly public training exercises for a possible terrorist scenario.

Docklands railway station in 2017 and DCU campus in 2018

Odyssey 2005

Salthillprom wrote: »

Every local authority, Garda division and HSE area has a major emergency plan and those plans would be activated.

Local authority, garda and hse emergency plan ??. What planet are you on ?. The garda couldn't direct traffic ,Electric Picnic and the National Ploughing will prove that.

Signore Fancy Pants

The Office of Emergency Planing has a protocol in the event of a number of situations.

There are numerous sub groups which specialise in planning for anything from extreme weather to CBRN attacks. State agencies will respond to these events as appropriate.

Unfortunately, theres no known plan for Z Day. I think it might be one of those free for all moments.

Signore Fancy Pants

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

Local authority, garda and hse emergency plan ??. What planet are you on ?. The garda couldn't direct traffic ,Electric Picnic and the National Ploughing will prove that.

He said they would be "activated", not successful!

Your Face

I would completely lose the run of myself.
Looting, pillaging, loud rock music but more importantly - revenge.

_Brian

I’ve in a very rural area with 70 minute drive to the nearest city. Bar they shoot the postman were not thinking too much about it.

BDI

In a brave new world
With just a handful of men
We’d start all over again.

jmreire

First step, if you survive the initial attack... by any mean's possible,get as far away from the site, as quick as you can, and pray that there are no secondary's. Every thing that happen's after that will depend on what ever emergency plan the Government has in place for such an event. Unless its a major Nuclear strike ( in which case a completely different scenario will unfold ) but in the case of a localized incident, say a bombing, or even several bombing on different sites, even using heavy capacity bomb's, will not knock out every single thing,,,,transport will still run, communications will still work ( maybe not 100% ) Hospitals will still function ( emergency generator back -up ) and after the initial disruption, restoration work will start, and a return to normality will begin.
In the case where there will be wave after wave of attack's, then life will quickly deteriorate, especially in the City's, but even at a vastly reduced rate, Life will go on. People living away fro the main population centers will not be in any physical danger from the bombing's, but depending on how badly damaged the Country's infrastructure is, sooner or later they will feel the effect's too. But this is not an isolated bombing incident,,this would be all out war....and in this case, everyone will be on a quick and sharp survival course.

kowloon

Odyssey 2005 wrote: »

So long as they didnt damage Jamse's Gate....and the internet.

I thought our internet box was stored at the top of the spire.

Mrs OBumble

Relative to some countries, Ireland is actually quite experienced at responding to actual terrorist attacks.

In the event on an attack in Dublin, I predict absolute traffic chaos, public transport failing and dazed people walking along the quays.

Or “Friday rush hour” as it’s orherwise known.

jmreire

Aegir wrote: »

In the event on an attack in Dublin, I predict absolute traffic chaos, public transport failing and dazed people walking along the quays.

Or “Friday rush hour” as it’s orherwise known.

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Feisar

If they take out the Joe Dolan statue, the spiritual epicenter of Mullingar, I’m not sure what’ll become of us. We’ll probably go more native than we already are!

Cantona's Collars

There's parts of the cities that look like the aftermath of a terrorist attack.

kowloon

Feisar wrote: »

If they take out the Joe Dolan statue, the spiritual epicenter of Mullingar, I’m not sure what’ll become of us. We’ll probably go more native than we already are!

The word you're looking for here is 'Feral'.

nannerby

Hopefully it starts along the boardwalk on the liffey.

arccosh

head to the pub....need a drink after that

Arghus

I'd say, "those nutters on Boards.ie were right all along!"

khalessi

Occupy Aldi or Lidl as theyve clothes food and weapons/diy tools