Are we ready for a terrorist attack?

Muahahaha · 02-11-2017 5:13pm #1

I would say not at all, nowhere near it. The Hutch-Kinahan feud brought about the introduction of the Armed Response Unit last year. These guys are our first line of defence against any terrorist attack which is far more likely now to come from a lone wolf with a gun than any kind of car bomb or similar attack.

You see the Armed Response Unit around the city centre quite a lot, they look the part in their militaristic uniforms and baseball hats and they certainly act the part when they spin though town in their large van with the side doors open like the A-Team and with their guns showing. I used to think great, these guys look like they know what theyre doing. But after that incident of an armed man in Tallaght leading them on a 7 hour merry dance a couple of weeks ago and now another ongoing incident of a teenager who is also armed them I really have to question how good these guys are.

The armed man in Tallaght managed to evade them for 7 hours last week. 200+ Gardai and a helicopter on a man hunt and it took them seven whole hours during which time he went full Grand Theft Auto and stole six cars as well as assaulting one of the owners. Now you would think that with a manhunt the smart thing to do is to set up checkpoints at all major junctions in the direct area. But not a single checkpoint, instead what you had was 200+ Gardai sprinting like headless chickens from one car theft location to the next and each time they got there they were too late and he out ran them.

And then eventually they did arrest him but not until they got even more egg on their face. Watch this video of the suspect running into Citywest Shopping Centre and when watching see if you can count how many Gardai chase in after him.
https://www.facebook.com/paul.mcauley.96/videos/1583060015107213/?q=citywest%20shopping%20centre%20shooting

My count is 26 Gardai ran in after him. There was definitely more as the camera angle often points to the ground but in the video you can count 26 Gardai running in after him. And what does Mr.No.1 on the Garda Most Wanted list do? He strolls right back out the same front door he came in, somehow having evaded 26 Gardai. This was a man known to Gardai, they have his photo on Pulse, they know what he looks like. Yet he evaded 200+ Gardai for 7 hours and even then in his arrest he tricks a further 26 by hiding behind a door and watching them all leg it in after him. You could not make this stuff up, in fact the only thing missing from that video is the theme tune to Benny Hill.

And now case in point no.2. Right now there is another man hunt underway for a teenager on the loose with a rifle. Last night they shut down the whole of Blanch Shopping Centre when a credible report came that he was inside. They surrounded the whole place in under 6 minutes (credit due here in fairness) but somehow the kid evades them and he is now still on the loose. Like how the hell did that happen? How did a teenager outsmart the ARU and dozens of more Gardai at the scene?

I will tell you what, these two cases involved two armed men who dont actually seem intent on hurting members of the public, despite the fact they are armed. At least neither of them has fired a bullet. But there are serious questions to asked here, if they were lone wolf terrorists then they would have had a field day going on a shooting spree. The only thing that would be stopping them is running out of bullets because these two incidents involving the Armed Response Unit have shown that they are completely at sixes and sevens when it comes to dealing with this type of incident. If terrorism does strike here we are fooked.

jamesbere · 02-11-2017 5:14pm

I've my Stanley knife on stand by just in case

kippy · 02-11-2017 5:15pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

I would say not at all, nowhere near it. The Hutch-Kinahan feud brought about the introduction of the Armed Response Unit last year. These guys are our first line of defence against any terrorist attack which is far more likely now to come from a lone wolf with a gun than any kind of car bomb or similar attack.

You see the Armed Response Unit around the city centre quite a lot, they look the part in their militaristic uniforms and baseball hats and they certainly act the part when they spin though town in their large van with the side doors open like the A-Team and with their guns showing. I used to think great, these guys look like they know what theyre doing. But after that incident of an armed man in Tallaght leading them on a 7 hour merry dance a couple of weeks ago and now another ongoing incident of a teenager who is also armed them I really have to question how good these guys are.

The armed man in Tallaght managed to evade them for 7 hours last week. 200+ Gardai and a helicopter on a man hunt and it took them seven whole hours during which time he went full Grand Theft Auto and stole six cars as well as assaulting one of the owners. Now you would think that with a manhunt the smart thing to do is to set up checkpoints at all major junctions in the direct area. But not a single checkpoint, instead what you had was 200+ Gardai sprinting like headless chickens from one car theft location to the next and each time they got there they were too late and he out ran them.

And then eventually they did arrest him but not until they got even more egg on their face. Watch this video of the suspect running into Citywest Shopping Centre and when watching see if you can count how many Gardai chase in after him.
https://www.facebook.com/paul.mcauley.96/videos/1583060015107213/?q=citywest%20shopping%20centre%20shooting

My count is 26 Gardai ran in after him. There was definitely more as the camera angle often points to the ground but in the video you can count 26 Gardai running in after him. And what does Mr.No.1 on the Garda Most Wanted list do? He strolls right back out the same front door he came in, somehow having evaded 26 Gardai. This was a man known to Gardai, they have his photo on Pulse, they know what he looks like. Yet he evaded 200+ Gardai for 7 hours and even then in his arrest he tricks a further 26 by hiding behind a door and watching them all leg it in after him. You could not make this stuff up, in fact the only thing missing from that video is the theme tune to Benny Hill.

And now case in point no.2. Right now there is another man hunt underway for a teenager on the loose with a rifle. Last night they shut down the whole of Blanch Shopping Centre when a credible report came that he was inside. They surrounded the whole place in under 6 minutes (credit due here in fairness) but somehow the kid evades them and he is now still on the loose. Like how the hell did that happen? How did a teenager outsmart the ARU and dozens of more Gardai at the scene?

I will tell you what, these two cases involved two armed men who dont actually seem intent on hurting members of the public, despite the fact they are armed. At least neither of them has fired a bullet. But there is a serious questions to asked here, if they were lone wolf terrorists then they would have had a field day going on a shooting spree. The only thing that would be stopping them is running out of bullets because these two incidents involving the Armed Response Unit have shown that they are completely at sixes and sevens when it comes to dealing with this type of incident. If terrorism does strike here we are fooked.

What's the cost of being ready? Not just in monetary terms.
What does 'being ready' mean?
Surely the terrorists have won if we change fundamentally how we go about our business.

The Backwards Man · 02-11-2017 5:15pm

Yeah, what would we know about terrorism in Ireland?

Boom_Bap · 02-11-2017 5:16pm

They should just start shooting people randomly until they get the culprit.

Nettle Soup · 02-11-2017 5:16pm

Tabnabs · 02-11-2017 5:18pm

The State can also call on the assets of the Army Ranger Wing to deploy to terrorist situations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEkdOD4JfQA

02-11-2017 5:19pm

I mean, we've dealt with terrorism for... what... 50 years? I'm pretty certain we're used to it.

Harry Palmr · 02-11-2017 5:20pm

What an idiotic OP. Real life is not be confused with drama on de telly. One person esp on foot is easily the hardest target to capture unless they are using a Zimmer frame for mobility. (just as an aside why don't crims use Burqas - slip on one and who'd ever know?)

Odhinn · 02-11-2017 5:22pm

Boom_Bap wrote: »

They should just start shooting people randomly until they get the culprit.

I don't think we could afford the ammunition.

Kermit.de.frog · 02-11-2017 5:27pm

No, I don't think we are equipped to deal with a full on serious incident.

We have never really taken security in the state seriously with low and mid level criminality. What makes people think a higher level of competence would exist dealing with the aftermath of extremists bent on killing?

How many ambulances, for example, are operating in Dublin at the one time? Last I read a couple of years back is was low single figures.

irishrover99 · 02-11-2017 5:29pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

But after that incident of an armed man in Tallaght leading them on a 7 hour merry dance a couple of weeks ago
.

It took the French army and Parisian police weeks to catch some of the terrorists who attacked Paris.
The ones they caught wanted to be caught so they could kill more people.

Donald Trump · 02-11-2017 5:29pm

Never mind Terror. Are you ready for Love?

I mean you'd better brace yourself when Elton is coming (pun intended)

weldoninhio · 02-11-2017 5:31pm

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

No, I don't think we are not equipped to deal with a full on serious incident.

How many ambulances, for example, are operating in Dublin at the one time? Last I read a couple of years back is was low single figures.

So you do think we are ready??

branie2 · 02-11-2017 5:31pm

It might not happen

Boom_Bap · 02-11-2017 5:32pm

Odhinn wrote: »

I don't think we could afford the ammunition.

Best let the ARU do the job how they have been trained so with the safety of the public in mind, don't want to waste them bullets.

Donald Trump · 02-11-2017 5:33pm

Odhinn wrote: »

I don't think we could afford the ammunition.

Riddled?

branie2 · 02-11-2017 5:34pm

They don't grow on trees!

Orangeglacier · 02-11-2017 5:37pm

People go on about this lad on a seven hour rampage, but don't look at it from the point of view he disappeared at 7am after he first went nuts and didn't appear till about 6 hours later so he literally actively engaging in crime for less than 45 mins

Omackeral · 02-11-2017 5:37pm

branie2 wrote: »

It might not happen

Great point.

Kermit.de.frog · 02-11-2017 5:38pm

She was some woman that Mick Collins.

El Weirdo · 02-11-2017 5:45pm

... The Hutch-Kinahan feud brought about the introduction of the Armed Response Unit last year.

I think you'll find that they've been around a bit longer than that.

Zebra3 · 02-11-2017 5:45pm

My suggestions on how we get ourselves ready for any potential attack:

1) Smash civil liberties. Declare an unending state of emergency now.

2) Cut back on spending in education and health and buy stuff that kills people.

3) Get our politicans and media to whip the public up in to a state of fear.

4) Label anyone speaking out against the above as an Islamic communist and organise witch hunts.

Job done, democracy saved.

corner of hells · 02-11-2017 5:50pm

Orangeglacier wrote: »

People go on about this lad on a seven hour rampage, but don't look at it from the point of view he disappeared at 7am after he first went nuts and didn't appear till about 6 hours later so he literally actively engaging in crime for less than 45 mins

Apparently he went for a kip for the missing six hours.Terrorism can't be very tiring , so I'm told.

Nettle Soup · 02-11-2017 5:53pm

weldoninhio wrote: »

So you do think we are ready??

It's a triple negative...he's a witch!!

nelly17 · 02-11-2017 5:54pm

I think based on how the Guards reacted when that nutter surfaced in Citywest - possibly yes.

But...

The hospitals - holy **** are we screwed

jonon9 · 02-11-2017 5:55pm

Well iv a hammer in the shed sooo yeah im ready.

bennyl10 · 02-11-2017 5:55pm

Muahahaha wrote: »

I would say not at all, nowhere near it. The Hutch-Kinahan feud brought about the introduction of the Armed Response Unit last year. These guys are our first line of defence against any terrorist attack which is far more likely now to come from a lone wolf with a gun than any kind of car bomb or similar attack.

You see the Armed Response Unit around the city centre quite a lot, they look the part in their militaristic uniforms and baseball hats and they certainly act the part when they spin though town in their large van with the side doors open like the A-Team and with their guns showing. I used to think great, these guys look like they know what theyre doing. But after that incident of an armed man in Tallaght leading them on a 7 hour merry dance a couple of weeks ago and now another ongoing incident of a teenager who is also armed them I really have to question how good these guys are.

The armed man in Tallaght managed to evade them for 7 hours last week. 200+ Gardai and a helicopter on a man hunt and it took them seven whole hours during which time he went full Grand Theft Auto and stole six cars as well as assaulting one of the owners. Now you would think that with a manhunt the smart thing to do is to set up checkpoints at all major junctions in the direct area. But not a single checkpoint, instead what you had was 200+ Gardai sprinting like headless chickens from one car theft location to the next and each time they got there they were too late and he out ran them.

And then eventually they did arrest him but not until they got even more egg on their face. Watch this video of the suspect running into Citywest Shopping Centre and when watching see if you can count how many Gardai chase in after him.
https://www.facebook.com/paul.mcauley.96/videos/1583060015107213/?q=citywest%20shopping%20centre%20shooting

My count is 26 Gardai ran in after him. There was definitely more as the camera angle often points to the ground but in the video you can count 26 Gardai running in after him. And what does Mr.No.1 on the Garda Most Wanted list do? He strolls right back out the same front door he came in, somehow having evaded 26 Gardai. This was a man known to Gardai, they have his photo on Pulse, they know what he looks like. Yet he evaded 200+ Gardai for 7 hours and even then in his arrest he tricks a further 26 by hiding behind a door and watching them all leg it in after him. You could not make this stuff up, in fact the only thing missing from that video is the theme tune to Benny Hill.

And now case in point no.2. Right now there is another man hunt underway for a teenager on the loose with a rifle. Last night they shut down the whole of Blanch Shopping Centre when a credible report came that he was inside. They surrounded the whole place in under 6 minutes (credit due here in fairness) but somehow the kid evades them and he is now still on the loose. Like how the hell did that happen? How did a teenager outsmart the ARU and dozens of more Gardai at the scene?

I will tell you what, these two cases involved two armed men who dont actually seem intent on hurting members of the public, despite the fact they are armed. At least neither of them has fired a bullet. But there are serious questions to asked here, if they were lone wolf terrorists then they would have had a field day going on a shooting spree. The only thing that would be stopping them is running out of bullets because these two incidents involving the Armed Response Unit have shown that they are completely at sixes and sevens when it comes to dealing with this type of incident. If terrorism does strike here we are fooked.

Just as a point, the ARU have been around long before the hutch feud.. they’re very well trained and have been doing their job for years...

Yesterday the kid did not evade the guardai he was never there..

Credit is due for how quickly they locked it down

Gerrup Outta Dat! · 02-11-2017 5:56pm

If we ever are attacked, my bet is that the Orange Order will do it.

Barry Badrinath · 02-11-2017 5:59pm

Ready? What does anyone mean by "ready"?

If a State is "ready" for an attack, the attacker(s) change their MO, thus negating the readiness. Nobody is ever ready for an attack.

"Are we ready?" Is a simplistic question but the answer is quite complex.

Are specialist Units in AGS trained to cope with ANY and EVERY situation? No. Are they trained enough to deal with a "Lone Wolf" attacker? Yes but with caveats. The big thing is reaction time.

Before planning to counter any threat, it is essential to understand the evolution of the threat. We didnt wake up one day and "Lone Wolf" or marauder attacks were the norm. These were borne from asymetric warfare.

Im not concerned with AGS's ability to react to such a situation. These attacks are planned to do the maximum amount of damage in the minimum amount of time with huge scope for flexibility.

My concern is the medical emergency and triage after an event. Thats were more lives may be lost than just at the attack site.

Odhinn · 02-11-2017 6:04pm

Barry Badrinath wrote: »

Ready? What does anyone mean by "ready"?

If a State is "ready" for an attack, the attacker(s) change their MO, thus negating the readiness. Nobody is ever ready for an attack.

"Are we ready?" Is a simplistic question but the answer is quite complex.

Are specialist Units in AGS trained to cope with ANY and EVERY situation? No. Are they trained enough to deal with a "Lone Wolf" attacker? Yes but with caveats. The big thing is reaction time.

Before planning to counter any threat, it is essential to understand the evolution of the threat. We didnt wake up one day and "Lone Wolf" or marauder attacks were the norm. These were borne from asymetric warfare.

Im not concerned with AGS's ability to react to such a situation. These attacks are planned to do the maximum amount of damage in the minimum amount of time with huge scope for flexibility.

My concern is the medical emergency and triage after an event. Thats were more lives may be lost than just at the attack site.

There is the brutal truth that there really is a minimum to what you can do against self organising loners who are willing to kill whatever persons are to hand.

Are we ready for a terrorist attack?

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