UK police arrested five men close to an airbase in England that is used by US long-range bombers on suspicion of terror and explosives offenses.

Army bomb disposal units are at the scene while dozens of houses nearby have been evacuated as a precaution with the investigation ongoing.

The arrests were made after information was received from residents in the area soon after midnight, according to Richard Ocone, a senior detective in the county of Gloucestershire. The men have not been identified and no clue has been given about a possible motive.

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[–] 42 points 4 days ago (8 children)

Attacking the military or police isn't terrorism, that's warfare, original recipe.

Double-tap bombing of elementary schools is terrorism.

But of course I'm stupid and pedantic. Terrorist is something you are, not something you did.

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  • [+] -12 points 4 days ago (7 children)

    No, terrorism is something you do.

    Attacking the military or police of a country you're not at war with to force your political or ideological goals is terrorism.

    The US also committing terrorism doesn't change this.

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  • [–] 22 points 4 days ago (4 children)

    What do you call it when the base is being used to attack you?

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  • [–] -1 points 4 days ago (1 child)

    Terrorism.

    It doesn't stop being terrorism because it's a cause you agree with. It's an action using violence to force a political, ideological, or social change through fear.

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  • [–] 2 points 4 days ago

    Breaking stuff you don't agree with isn't terrorism, it's just regular crime. They (seemingly from the sparse information being released) weren't attacking politicians or voters to change political choices. A crime being allegedly ideologically motivated or against government property doesn't make it terrorism.

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  • [–] 9 points 4 days ago (2 children)

    Were they holding Palestine Action signs? Oh the horror!

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  • [–] 5 points 4 days ago (1 child)

    The UK has so overused the terrorism designation that my first assumption on reading the headline is that this is bullshit.

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  • [–] 8 points 4 days ago (2 children)

    Check if they speak Russian.

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  • [–] 14 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

    Guard: "Vy russkiye shpionov?"

    Daniel: "Nyet."

    Jack: "Daniel?"

    Daniel: "He just asked if we were Soviet spies, I just..."

    Daniel stops mid-sentence as Jack gives him the look of disapproval.

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  • [–] 6 points 4 days ago

    Why didn't they arrest the terrorists living inside that base?

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