Blair and Government physhically attacked

[Vanhalen 0]

 

 

 

A major review of security is under way after a condom full of purple flour was thrown at Tony Blair as he faced MPs in the House of Commons.

The PM was speaking during his weekly half-hour question and answer session when the projectile hit his back, prompting MPs to evacuate the chamber.

 

Campaign group Fathers 4 Justice claimed responsibility. Two men aged 50 and 36 have been arrested.

 

It is believed the suspects got tickets to the Commons at a charity auction.

 

The incident occurred despite a £600,000 security screen being installed in the chamber at Easter.

 

Father-of-two Ron Davies, from Worthing, Sussex, threw the flour-filled condom from an area of the gallery reserved for MPs' and Peers' guests and notable visitors as a second, activist, named by police sources as Guy Harrison, held up a poster.

 

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott and Chancellor Gordon Brown, who were sitting either side of Mr Blair, both looked up at the public gallery as the dust descended at 1218 BST.

 

MPs were seen wafting something away from themselves as proceedings were suspended.

 

Government sources admitted that the politicians did not know what to do and expressed surprise that people were let out of the chamber.

 

Unexpected outcome

 

The source said the MPs' response "did not go the way we expected". The attack would have been "incredibly serious" if the dyed flour had been anthrax or ricin.

 

 

The protest could result in more security restrictions in Parliament

In a later statement to the House of Lords, Labour peer Baroness Golding said the two protesters were guests of hers and she offered "unreserved apologies" to Commons Speaker Michael Martin, MPs and fellow peers.

 

Matt O'Connor, spokesman for Fathers 4 Justice, said two members of the group were involved in the incident to highlight MPs' failure to help fathers gain access to children through the courts.

 

 

'Serious implications'

 

Mr Blair's spokesman said no sooner had the prime minister left the Commons, he wanted to know when he could return to finish question time - but the Speaker vetoed the move.

 

Instead Mr Blair began preparing his speech for a seminar on alcohol abuse on Thursday, said the spokesman.

 

The prime minister appeared unsure of what was happening to him before he was ushered slowly, almost bemused, from the chamber

 

He added the security breach had "serious implications", but stressed that it was up to the Commons to resolve these.

 

Home Secretary David Blunkett said a security review had already been launched at Westminster after recent breaches at Buckingham Palace.

 

The security services will bring forward recommendations "very quickly indeed", but it could mean there will be more restrictions on access to Parliament, he said.

 

"Thank God it has not led to danger and fatality," Mr Blunkett added.

 

Labour MP Kevin Brennan said he saw what appeared to be a stain on the back of Mr Blair's jacket as the dust hit him.

 

Ex-Tory minister Michael Portillo said he thought "one dose" of the dust had been thrown "before the prime minister reacted".

 

Commons leader Peter Hain said: "This was a serious incident. I have asked for an immediate report on the circumstances and what additional security provisions may be necessary."

 

Mark Oaten, the Liberal Democrats home affairs spokesman, called for an urgent review of security arrangements.

 

"He threw what looked like a paint ball at the prime minister and shouted Fathers 4 Justice," he said.

 

"At that point the prime minister remained remarkably calm, I thought, if not a bit confused and the Speaker quite rightly suspended the session.

 

"Police were then seen rushing into the chamber to try to arrest the individual. There was absolutely no panic at all."

 

For the Conservatives David Davis said: "This incident is profoundly disturbing in the current security situation."

 

Prime Minister's questions was abandoned. Commons business recommenced at 1330 BST.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I heard about this. Man, if that powder was something else I wouldn't want to be in England right now...

[Vyce 0]

The source said the MPs' response "did not go the way we expected". The attack would have been "incredibly serious" if the dyed flour had been anthrax or ricin.

 

You're exactly right.

 

I saw this story on the news this morning - specifically on CNN. Soledad O'Brien seemed interested in discovering what the powder was, but the other tool who co-anchors with her seemed amused by the whole story.

 

Which left me to scream at my tv, "What the fuck is so funny? It could have been fucking anthrax!"

 

No, really, I yelled at the TV. Scared my dog in the process.

[Guest thebigjig]

Well you see, its funny because it was a condom... and THATS funny because condoms go on your *snicker* pee-pee *snicker*

[Guest thebigjig]

oh and another note... while the condom thing was ridiculously stupid and dangerous... the title of this thread is a LITTLE misleading... getting a condom thrown at you isn't what I would call getting physically attacked... when I clicked on this thread, I expected to read about Blair getting tackled or something... or at LEAST a pie in the face

[Superstring 0]

Well from the way Gordon Brown's looking at least it seemed to liven things up.

 

Government sources admitted that the politicians did not know what to do and expressed surprise that people were let out of the chamber.

 

Despite the fact that MP's had been given details on what to do in these situations, way to set an example for the country guys!

[Zorin Industries 0]

John Prescott looks like hes about to run up to the gallery and give out a good lacing

[Jobber of the Week 0]

I think it's pretty funny.

 

Vyce, if someone did that to you, would you scream at them about how it could have been anthrax?

[Red Baron 0]

Well, late night shows are going to be loving this incident

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

You know, shouldn't these protestors be considered patriotic? After all, they were just trying to show that there were holes in the security system...

[Jobber of the Week 0]

Although I'd personally feel sad for PM Blair and his loved ones if it was a dangerous substance, I don't understand what the big impact is in the event it could be one.

 

I mean, it's not like he's the only guy in the world who knows the answer to brain cancer or anything. He's a politician, there's hundreds of 'em.

[tommytomlin 0]

But that's the same for every act of terrorism. The loss of life is small compared to the hundreds of thousands of people who die from cancer, or AIDS, or car accidents every month, but terrorism has a hugely damaging effect on stock markets and tourism and consumer confidence and such. Tony Blair getting a condom-full of purple anthrax thrown at his face mightn't be a big deal compared to say, a family of four dieing when their Toyota crashes through the front door of a fireworks factory, but it would have a massive effect on Britain's economy.

[TheFranchise 0]

Ha ha.. guy on the right of Blair can't stay awake at the exciting speech.

[Vanhalen 0]

Thats Gordon Brown ffs Adam, he will be taking over once Blair quits in the next 2-3 months

[Vyce 0]

I think it's pretty funny.

 

Vyce, if someone did that to you, would you scream at them about how it could have been anthrax?

No, actually, I'd just beat the shit out of them.

 

Then ask them what the fuck they thought they were doing.

[Guest BDC]

I think it's pretty funny.

 

Vyce, if someone did that to you, would you scream at them about how it could have been anthrax?

No, actually, I'd just beat the shit out of them.

 

Then ask them what the fuck they thought they were doing.

Good answer! Survey says, DING, 90% agree!

 

To contribute something useful... isn't this honestly a case of wanton endangerment or something? To throw something at the leader of your country is bad. To add in powder is just asking for people to go stampeding out.

[Zorin Industries 0]

As far as I know the protesters are already out on bail and are only being charged with a minor offence

[Highland 0]

Although I'd personally feel sad for PM Blair and his loved ones if it was a dangerous substance, I don't understand what the big impact is in the event it could be one.

 

I mean, it's not like he's the only guy in the world who knows the answer to brain cancer or anything. He's a politician, there's hundreds of 'em.

George W. Bush is only a politician too, but can you imagine the reaction--and what would happen to the assailants--if this had happened to him?

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

I think it's pretty funny.

 

Vyce, if someone did that to you, would you scream at them about how it could have been anthrax?

No, actually, I'd just beat the shit out of them.

 

Then ask them what the fuck they thought they were doing.

Good answer! Survey says, DING, 90% agree!

Count me in the 10%.

 

After sitting down to talk with these frustrated citizens, I'd do everything in my power to try and see if I can solve the problems that they are trying to bring attention to.

 

This is of course after I sodomize them with a 20-foot, white-hot rod...

[Guest Dr. Wrestlingphysics]

So this was done by "Fathers 4 Justice".

Cos this sort of thing is going to make a judge think these men are fit to look after children.