Using Technology to Deepen Democracy, Using Democracy to Ensure Technology Benefits Us All

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

(Nervous) Cackles from the Balcony

Eric has pointed me to this horrifying article in the Observer, and especially to this detail:
[O]fficers were given specific training on how to deal with suicide bombers... By studying footage of attacks and even interviewing failed bombers, senior Met officers drew up a list of 'precursor signals' that generally occur shortly before detonation of a device. Most have not been made public but include the potential bomber looking 'detached' from his or her surroundings and becoming introspective. In such situations new guidance suggested the officers shoot the suspect in the head rather than the torso as the latter would not stop a detonation and might even ignite the explosive.

Needless to say, Eric is not encouraged at the thought that police are being trained to shoot introspective commuters in the head no questions asked.

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