A reminder of days gone by, lest we forget in the 70's-80's we had ETA active in Spain. Italy was enduring the 'Years of Lead', and remember the 1980 Bologna Railway bombing was carried out by a far right group ( the Armed Revolutionary Nuclei) I believe it was the worst terrorist attack carried out in Europe prior to the Bataclan incident. Belgium also had the 'Brabant Killers' active between 82-85. I'd read up about them if you are a fan of conspiracy theories.
I'd always wondered why the terrorists of that time got a relatively free ride from the press but I suppose the press love a wrong'un. I can recall plane hijackings being the subject of many a sketch on light entertainment shows of the era. Different times.
I'm still slightly surprised that we have not had our own genuine home grown English terrorist group yet. We have a lot of educated people with not a lot to do and I'm sure a bad actor could wind them if they so required. It comes down to my belief that the XLW like to theorize about 'revolutionary acts' but are reluctant to get their hands dirty. I think the XRW also pose a threat but it depends if they are prepared to move into action. Faction fighting remains a weakness for both groups though.
One thing I remember from the Baader-Meinhof era was that the West German police regarded activism as a pyramid, at the bottom you may have many 000's who will support a cause, a smaller number will come out and protest, an even smaller number will take direct action and a few are prepared to kill or injure for the cause. I wonder if JSO and the so-called 'Blade Runners' will provide a base for someone to go fully militant? Time will tell and it's not as if there aren't enough bad actors outside the UK to stir the pot and provide the means.
Another interesting and thought provoking article. I’ve always wondered about the portrayal of the 70’s terrorist groups and how they were considered cool.
It always struck me that most were of good middle and upper class backgrounds who had access to funds to support themselves and the groups they formed and this gave them the time and ability to strategise their attacks on society. If they’d had to work hard at jobs to live an acceptable quality of life they might not have had time to plot so well.
That generation had free education to much higher levels than is available today and those who have racked up large sums in student debt are less likely to want to rock the system as much as before. They are under much more scrutiny than ever and have less freedom than in the 70’s I feel.
This seems to me to have changed the way radicalism is taught and encouraged now, leading to the lone wolf types who seem to have cornered the market in outrage and grabbing the headlines. I may have it all wrong and like your articles for the depth of your knowledge.
The xlw in the UK spends most of its Time attacking itself and hurling its arms In tbe air in faux outrage at the latest vile capitalist attack on the heroes of.......or some such drivel. Saying that if a genuine hard head charismatic figure with luck and fate on their side could appear and lead a small band of armed revolutionary nut jobs. Quite often it's time place and a one off event that lights the fire
I recall now long ago a senior German police officer or intelligence officer from Hamburg gave a talk @ RUSI, in Whitehall. The cell they were after was finally id'd as they were one of the few households who paid their utility bills in cash.
A few years later The Economist contrasted the German approach to protecting VIP buildings as "low key" unlike the barricades in Whitehall.
For longevity the Greek terrorist group 'November 17' as a starter see; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Organization_17_November and then look for the publications by George Kassimeris, Senior Research Fellow in Conflict and Terrorism at Wolverhampton University..
Mate. This bbc podcast is literally right up your strasse. It's how a long silent Raf terrorist was exposed using AI by some German journalists. German plod can't use the same AI tech, ironic. German plod politics and IMHO apathy and lack of spine meant they literally knocked on the targets door, waited whilst she called her fellow terrorist chums that Babylon was calling and Run for cover, she then flushed the sim card, before allowing plod inside. She's obviously looking at a stretch but she's staying stum about her fellow terrorists who have gone to ground.
As ever great piece Dom. I enjoyed the historical facts and your observations. Great idea to link the past and present. It’s always a treat to read your essays I always look forward to next one!
Very interesting, and yes, thought provoking. I also read with interest the comments and shared views. One of my modules in my Masters degree was terrorism related and how the wannabe terrorist legitimises their views and then, their actions. If their legitimisation goes far enough, it becomes their reality. If she/he or it is a troubled child, it can become their mental freedom. It is not too dissimilar to the thief who is caught, repeatedly tells the same lie and that becomes her/his/its reality.
Onto movies and suggestions, which is what you asked. Now retired from the world of policing, I galivant across Africa and the Middle East on various endeavours. I enjoyed reading 'The Devil's Work'. I also recall your mention of 'The Wild Geese', and I suspect it might be a film you could watch again. So, my request, whilst Africa is current on my agenda, watch that movie and explore how you could relate it to the modern mercery outfit, somehow seemingly legitimised by the title, Private Army. Or (and), you could do an essay on the use of the 'Witch Gun' as an assasin's weapon of preference (even though I cannot find a movie on it). ;-)
As a keen student of slang, the one Flying Squad people I knew used habitually was 'cheese roll', which meant to brush someone off. As in, 'I said hello, but he gave me a cheese roll.' I never got to the bottom of the phrase's etymology. Of course, in the Bwanch we would call it a 'baguette de fromage.'
If there are any squad geezers out there who could explain I would be grateful. You slaaaaaags.
The Spike was always main office CID as there was literally a spike that new jobs were impaled on. People who rifled through the jobs to select the best were called Spike Dancers, and those on squads who had never been on the spike were Spike Dodgers.
A reminder of days gone by, lest we forget in the 70's-80's we had ETA active in Spain. Italy was enduring the 'Years of Lead', and remember the 1980 Bologna Railway bombing was carried out by a far right group ( the Armed Revolutionary Nuclei) I believe it was the worst terrorist attack carried out in Europe prior to the Bataclan incident. Belgium also had the 'Brabant Killers' active between 82-85. I'd read up about them if you are a fan of conspiracy theories.
I'd always wondered why the terrorists of that time got a relatively free ride from the press but I suppose the press love a wrong'un. I can recall plane hijackings being the subject of many a sketch on light entertainment shows of the era. Different times.
I'm still slightly surprised that we have not had our own genuine home grown English terrorist group yet. We have a lot of educated people with not a lot to do and I'm sure a bad actor could wind them if they so required. It comes down to my belief that the XLW like to theorize about 'revolutionary acts' but are reluctant to get their hands dirty. I think the XRW also pose a threat but it depends if they are prepared to move into action. Faction fighting remains a weakness for both groups though.
One thing I remember from the Baader-Meinhof era was that the West German police regarded activism as a pyramid, at the bottom you may have many 000's who will support a cause, a smaller number will come out and protest, an even smaller number will take direct action and a few are prepared to kill or injure for the cause. I wonder if JSO and the so-called 'Blade Runners' will provide a base for someone to go fully militant? Time will tell and it's not as if there aren't enough bad actors outside the UK to stir the pot and provide the means.
Hi Dom,
Another interesting and thought provoking article. I’ve always wondered about the portrayal of the 70’s terrorist groups and how they were considered cool.
It always struck me that most were of good middle and upper class backgrounds who had access to funds to support themselves and the groups they formed and this gave them the time and ability to strategise their attacks on society. If they’d had to work hard at jobs to live an acceptable quality of life they might not have had time to plot so well.
That generation had free education to much higher levels than is available today and those who have racked up large sums in student debt are less likely to want to rock the system as much as before. They are under much more scrutiny than ever and have less freedom than in the 70’s I feel.
This seems to me to have changed the way radicalism is taught and encouraged now, leading to the lone wolf types who seem to have cornered the market in outrage and grabbing the headlines. I may have it all wrong and like your articles for the depth of your knowledge.
I genuinely hope you're right. I do worry about the preponderance of over-educated idle hands with ambition, but no way of realising it.
The xlw in the UK spends most of its Time attacking itself and hurling its arms In tbe air in faux outrage at the latest vile capitalist attack on the heroes of.......or some such drivel. Saying that if a genuine hard head charismatic figure with luck and fate on their side could appear and lead a small band of armed revolutionary nut jobs. Quite often it's time place and a one off event that lights the fire
I recall now long ago a senior German police officer or intelligence officer from Hamburg gave a talk @ RUSI, in Whitehall. The cell they were after was finally id'd as they were one of the few households who paid their utility bills in cash.
A few years later The Economist contrasted the German approach to protecting VIP buildings as "low key" unlike the barricades in Whitehall.
The German weakness - part of the Nazi legacy - and the curious reluctance of police investigators to consider options was seen in their approach to a series of murders of Turks, over several years, even when one victim was a police officer. The police decided it was a communal issue, suspecting the families and not the neo-Nazis who were responsible. Most recent article seen: https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jun/22/on-a-journey-through-germany-the-horror-of-the-past-lurks-close-to-the-surface
For longevity the Greek terrorist group 'November 17' as a starter see; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revolutionary_Organization_17_November and then look for the publications by George Kassimeris, Senior Research Fellow in Conflict and Terrorism at Wolverhampton University..
November 17th. Now there's a can of worms, leading right back to government collusion.
Like some parts of AGS bak in the day
More please Dom , maybe dissect The day of the jackal?
Keep it up
Cheers! That's a good idea, (1) mebbe after next Sunday's elections and (2) before the *next* remake comes out and probably ruins it (again).
Isn’t it thought Putin had a role from his KGB Dresden stattion of meeting & funding certain terrorists & terrorist groups?
Mate. This bbc podcast is literally right up your strasse. It's how a long silent Raf terrorist was exposed using AI by some German journalists. German plod can't use the same AI tech, ironic. German plod politics and IMHO apathy and lack of spine meant they literally knocked on the targets door, waited whilst she called her fellow terrorist chums that Babylon was calling and Run for cover, she then flushed the sim card, before allowing plod inside. She's obviously looking at a stretch but she's staying stum about her fellow terrorists who have gone to ground.
As ever great piece Dom. I enjoyed the historical facts and your observations. Great idea to link the past and present. It’s always a treat to read your essays I always look forward to next one!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5msv?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile
Very interesting, and yes, thought provoking. I also read with interest the comments and shared views. One of my modules in my Masters degree was terrorism related and how the wannabe terrorist legitimises their views and then, their actions. If their legitimisation goes far enough, it becomes their reality. If she/he or it is a troubled child, it can become their mental freedom. It is not too dissimilar to the thief who is caught, repeatedly tells the same lie and that becomes her/his/its reality.
Onto movies and suggestions, which is what you asked. Now retired from the world of policing, I galivant across Africa and the Middle East on various endeavours. I enjoyed reading 'The Devil's Work'. I also recall your mention of 'The Wild Geese', and I suspect it might be a film you could watch again. So, my request, whilst Africa is current on my agenda, watch that movie and explore how you could relate it to the modern mercery outfit, somehow seemingly legitimised by the title, Private Army. Or (and), you could do an essay on the use of the 'Witch Gun' as an assasin's weapon of preference (even though I cannot find a movie on it). ;-)
Very interesting read. SB are like vegans though, you SB know SB they are SB almost immediately somehow. Ps SB
Could be worse, I could have been on the Flying Squad (SQUAD SQUAD SQUAAADDD!!!!)
Squad, Shot, Slaaag
As a keen student of slang, the one Flying Squad people I knew used habitually was 'cheese roll', which meant to brush someone off. As in, 'I said hello, but he gave me a cheese roll.' I never got to the bottom of the phrase's etymology. Of course, in the Bwanch we would call it a 'baguette de fromage.'
If there are any squad geezers out there who could explain I would be grateful. You slaaaaaags.
The Spike was always main office CID as there was literally a spike that new jobs were impaled on. People who rifled through the jobs to select the best were called Spike Dancers, and those on squads who had never been on the spike were Spike Dodgers.