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Cyclist responsible for Gatwick chaos?

(47 posts)

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  1. SRD
    Moderator

    So, this was on twitter:
    "#gatwick #drones arrested person wearing hi- viz vest and cycle helmet. Motorist says two drones one 4 ft wide, had flashing lights. Using a pushbike perp. constantly moved, used back streets footway paths and was 'in plain sight' of security forces most of the time says source."

    have to agree with our own @sallyhinch: "I shouldn't laugh but it does prove that a) bikes are great for moving around unimpeded and can carry more than you think & b) even in hi vis they really cannot see you"

    Posted 5 years ago #
  2. chdot
    Admin

  3. Rosie
    Member

    I really hope this inspires a thriller where the Villanelle type saboteur gets about on a bicycle, while the police hare after armoured vehicles driving at 140mph.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  4. crowriver
    Member

    Hm, apparently the cyclist "perps" were not only hi-viz but also "lycra-clad".

    It's looking like they were very much aero cyclists. Literally in this case.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  5. chdot
    Admin

  6. crowriver
    Member

    "Speculation as to the identity of the two suspects, a man aged 47 and a woman aged 54, continues to mount, as police look into theories as to whether eco-warriors could be behind the drone mayhem."

    Sigh.

    The UK gov will be salivating at the prospect of proscribing organisations such as Greenpeace, Friends Of The Earth, and the Green Party. Anything to appease the Brexiteers and right wingers.

    Of course, cyclist = eco-warrior as 'normal' activists drive cars? Will we see an authoritarian ban on cycling clubs next?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  7. Rosie
    Member

    @crowriver - the idea of banning Greenpeace et al and cycling clubs is a little far-fetched, popular as that might be with the Daily Mail.

    I can see there being more control of drones. Seems they're heavily regulated in Germany.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  8. crowriver
    Member

    @Rosie, of course it's far-fetched. As fanciful as the notion that because activists ride bikes they are therefore "eco-warriors". However that's how those outwith the norm are demonised by those purporting to represent the majority of "normals".

    Posted 5 years ago #
  9. stiltskin
    Member

    The speculation that eco-warriors were responsible was pretty evident before this pair were arrested. They are being described as eco-warriors because they allegedly disrupted an operations at an airport, not becasue they are riding bikes.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  10. crowriver
    Member

    @stitskin, earlier versions of the DM headlines had "cyclist" and "eco-warrior" clearly linked. Now it turns out he's a double glazing fitter model aeroplane enthusiast, the couple don't quite fit the "eco-warrior" or "cyclist" stereotypes and the DM is rushing to alter the narrative...

    Posted 5 years ago #
  11. chdot
    Admin

    Classic eco warrior.

    Father of two, Mr Gait, who works as a window fitter, is understood to be a drone enthusiast who also flew remote control helicopters.

    But his boss insisted he had been working when the drone attacks were taking place and said he would be shocked if he had anything to do with the incident.

    https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/gatwick-drone-identities-of-arrested-couple-revealed/ar-BBRiMPr

    Posted 5 years ago #
  12. Rosie
    Member

    @crowriver If you are referring to the article linked to I can't see where it states that because they rode bicycles that they were therefore eco-warriors. The article linked to says nothing about bicycles.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  13. I were right about that saddle
    Member

  14. crowriver
    Member

    @Rosiue, it's an earlier article which seems to have disappeared from the DM web site. I suppose I ought to be pleased that at least they are not keeping speculative crowd baiting nonsense like that online...

    Oh wait...

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6519487/Hunt-drone-chaos.html

    Our sizzling Sun gets the boot in:

    'POLICE have arrested two middle-aged Gatwick drone gang suspects - after a cyclist was spotted "frantically" packing two drones into a bag near the airport. The man and woman, aged 47 and 54 from nearby Crawley, were held by cops on Friday night after another day of travel chaos caused by suspected eco-warriors.'

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8042572/gatwick-airport-arrests-latest-cyclist-spotted/

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8041051/motorist-saw-gatwick-drone-pilot/

    https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8034127/gatwick-drone-menace-taunted-cops-flash-lights/

    And the Torygraph:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/20/environmental-protests-suspected-orchestrating-gatwick-drone/

    Posted 5 years ago #
  15. Rosie
    Member

    Well that seems as neutral to me as "spotted a transit van" or any other form of transport. If the droners did use a cycle do you want this fact suppressed?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  16. stiltskin
    Member

    Well. I'm reading that DM article *washes hands compulsively* but I'm still not seeing the link between 'cyclist' & 'eco-warrior'. The article mentions that someone on a bike had a drone. It also mentions the various possibilities: 'eco-warrior' prominent amongst them, but I'm not really seeing any sort of direct connection made.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  17. Greenroofer
    Member

    @Rosie It's not neutral. If it said "A person was seen stuffing it into a transit van" then that would be neutral, as would "a person was seen stuffing it into a bag before making off on a bicycle".

    Saying it was 'a cyclist' continues the treatment of people who ride bikes as an out group. Replace 'cyclist' with whichever offensive race- or sexuality- or Brexit-based discriminatory word you choose and see that it still works.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  18. Rosie
    Member

    You don't stuff things in a transit van, you load them.

    Is "cyclist" offensive? To me it is a short way of saying "someone on a bicycle". I find this comparison with perjorative racist terms fairly strained. Especially as it's a physical description.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  19. Rosie
    Member

    Someone was wondering why the droners didn't just dump the drones. However perhaps they are traceable?

    Posted 5 years ago #
  20. crowriver
    Member

    @Rosie, I cannot find the original article and headline mentioned earlier, but it did link in the headline the words "cyclist" and "eco-warrior".

    In the other articles (DM, Sun, Torygraph) these terms are not linked in the same sentence, but are there in very close proximity. This is how the terms "cyclist" and "eco-warrior" become linked by the media. It's a short step away from cyclist = eco-warrior. And as Greenroofer points out, they don't say "person on a bike" but "cyclist". There's an out group identifier being used, whether subconsciously or not.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  21. Rosie
    Member

    @crowriver I think we had better agree to disagree.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  22. chdot
    Admin

    parents insist he's a 'nice boy not an eco-warrior'

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6524457/Police-continue-quiz-double-glazing-worker-Gatwick-drone.html

    Posted 5 years ago #
  23. Rosie
    Member

    @chdot Works for a double-glazing company. Well that confirms my suspicions about them. How right I have been to cut their phone calls short.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  24. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    I do wish papers would wait until people were convicted before publishing their photos and identities.

    Posted 5 years ago #
  25. SRD
    Moderator

  26. Rosie
    Member

    @IWRATS - agree, or at least until they've been charged and a trial date set.

    Anyway this couple had very supportive friends and neighbours, who said nice things about them.

    Now what would they say if you were arrested for similar...

    Posted 5 years ago #
  27. I were right about that saddle
    Member

  28. chdot
    Admin

  29. crowriver
    Member

    "Following arrest, it was noticed that the suspects did not own bicycles, had no hi-viz vests in their possession and were not typical eco-warriors nor agents of a foreign power. Also their neighbours said they were just a normal couple. On this basis we have released them without charge. We are appealing to the public for information on any suspicious looking cyclists wearing hi-viz, who may or may not have dreadlocks and/or a Russian accent."

    Posted 5 years ago #
  30. unhurt
    Member


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