"sabotage rail lines" - devices bearing pro-Brexit slogans planted on tracks

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From The Guardian but also getting coverage in many other places

Police are investigating attempts to sabotage rail lines after two devices bearing pro-Brexit slogans were planted on train tracks.

Two “malicious obstructions” were left on tracks near Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, on 21 March and at Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, on 27 March.

They bore the slogans “Government betrayal. Leaves means leave” and “We will bring this country to its knees if we don’t leave”, which were printed, not handwritten.

The devices would not have caused permanent damage or loss of life, but were meant to cause disruption, police said. Services were not disrupted and detectives are now hunting the offenders before try strike again or injure themselves.

[TaplowGreen]

From The Guardian but also getting coverage in many other places

Police are investigating attempts to sabotage rail lines after two devices bearing pro-Brexit slogans were planted on train tracks.

Two “malicious obstructions” were left on tracks near Yaxley, Cambridgeshire, on 21 March and at Netherfield, Nottinghamshire, on 27 March.

They bore the slogans “Government betrayal. Leaves means leave” and “We will bring this country to its knees if we don’t leave”, which were printed, not handwritten.

The devices would not have caused permanent damage or loss of life, but were meant to cause disruption, police said. Services were not disrupted and detectives are now hunting the offenders before try strike again or injure themselves.

Unfortunately it may well be a sign of things to come - if Brexit is cancelled, against the wishes of the people as expressed in the referendum, expect civil disobedience on a scale that this country has never seen before.

[ellendune]

Unfortunately it may well be a sign of things to come - if Brexit is cancelled, against the wishes of the people as expressed in the referendum, expect civil disobedience on a scale that this country has never seen before.

Or civil disobedience that is expected as a result of No Deal Chaos? 

The country was split pretty much down the middle so a lot of other people will be fairly aggrieved if it goes the other way. When they marched on London the other day there was no reported violence. A compromise is normally the approach in such cases. But a small minority won't accept that. 

[Robin Summerhill]

I am sure that if people want to discuss the pros and cons of brexit, and the pros and cons of how the government is handling it, there are plenty of internet forums out there to do it on.

This forum is supposed to be about railways in general and GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) in particular.

Personally I support Home Rule for Chippenham

[Western Pathfinder]

That and Freedom for Pilning!..

[SandTEngineer]

Guys, please, this is serious stuff....

[MVR S&T]

Yes, it is serious, trespass and a certain amount of knowledge, though perhaps not of politics or common sense.

[JayMac]

Unfortunately it may well be a sign of things to come - if Brexit is cancelled, against the wishes of the people as expressed in the referendum, expect civil disobedience on a scale that this country has never seen before.

Ahh. The pro-brexiteers goto "project fear". Let us have our way or we will bring violence and destruction to the country.

It is interesting to note from the recent demonstrations and this news where the peaceful moderate line is.

Assualts at the start of Nigel Farage's march. Arrests at the 'Leave means leave' gatherings in London last Friday. A far right racist extremist and his knuckle dragging followers sharing the platform at that gathering. Said extremist welcomed with open arms by the leader of UKIP. And now, credible threats to infrastructure that could cause loss of life.

Meanwhile, upwards of 1 million people demonstrated in London the week before in favour of remaining in the EU^» (European Union - about). 5-10 time more than demonstrated in favour of leaving. And from that larger crowd how many were arrested? How many extremist racists were given a platform? How many counter demonstrators were assaulted? Answer to all three... none.

And I expect the retort will be... "17.2 million". Well, yes, but that was 3 years ago and in a referendum based on flawed and poor information on both sides. With one side even breaking the law. Give the people a final say, with the ballot box, not sticks and stones.

The way out of the deadlock is not to suggest, threaten or enact civil disobedience "on a scale this country has never seen before." That is not democracy. That is mob rule.

[grahame]

"attempts to sabotage rail lines" as described in the original article - no matter what your view, or what view is being highlighted by the saboteurs - is unacceptable.

I was fully aware when I posted the original report at the top of this thread that it brought in a difficult base subject where members would have three different views they wanted to see on the Coffee Shop - leave, remain, and don't express either view here.  And I knew that emotions are running so high that it was likely to turn into a thread on which the moderator team might need to comment.

We are indeed primarily a travel forum. And there is good sense in the suggestion that we remember that as we post. We are also very much a friendly forum where our respect for one another remains, even where are views differ, perhaps to the extent of being incomprehensible to one another.  Let's also remember that as we post. And your excellent team of volunteer moderators have, at times, a difficult job and you really shouldn't make it any more difficult for them.  Please remember that as you post.

[TaplowGreen]

Unfortunately it may well be a sign of things to come - if Brexit is cancelled, against the wishes of the people as expressed in the referendum, expect civil disobedience on a scale that this country has never seen before.

Ahh. The pro-brexiteers goto "project fear". Let us have our way or we will bring violence and destruction to the country.

It is interesting to note from the recent demonstrations and this news where the peaceful moderate line is.

Assualts at the start of Nigel Farage's march. Arrests at the 'Leave means leave' gatherings in London last Friday. A far right racist extremist and his knuckle dragging followers sharing the platform at that gathering. Said extremist welcomed with open arms by the leader of UKIP. And now, credible threats to infrastructure that could cause loss of life.

Meanwhile, upwards of 1 million people demonstrated in London the week before in favour of remaining in the EU^» (European Union - about). 5-10 time more than demonstrated in favour of leaving. And from that larger crowd how many were arrested? How many extremist racists were given a platform? How many counter demonstrators were assaulted? Answer to all three... none.

And I expect the retort will be... "17.2 million". Well, yes, but that was 3 years ago and in a referendum based on flawed and poor information on both sides. With one side even breaking the law. Give the people a final say, with the ballot box, not sticks and stones.

The way out of the deadlock is not to suggest, threaten or enact civil disobedience "on a scale this country has never seen before." That is not democracy. That is mob rule.

I voted remain, I was just expressing a concern. I don't think violence is acceptable under any circumstances.

Poorly informed assumptions are one of the main reasons why the whole debate has turned so toxic.

Good rant though! 

[GBM]

"Power to the people". Join the Tooting Popular Front.  Wolfie for leader.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Smith

Loved that programme 

[TaplowGreen]

"Power to the people". Join the Tooting Popular Front.  Wolfie for leader.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_Smith

Loved that programme 

Personally I prefer the Reggie Perrin approach...…..and I didn't get where I am today by sabotaging railway lines!!! 

[CyclingSid]

Only

three different views

? So why has it taken so long to reach no decision. Glad they are not running a railway.

[LiskeardRich]

This occurrence just demonstrates the level of intelligence of some individuals. Putting a device to disrupt a circuit on a line with axle counters. Ironically weren’t axle counters an EU^» (European Union - about) thing?

[Robin Summerhill]

Only

three different views

? So why has it taken so long to reach no decision. Glad they are not running a railway.

The trouble is they are running the railway in the guise of the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about). And they're making a pig's ear of that job as well