In light of today’s attacks and me being increasingly annoyed with both right and left wing ‘bloggards’, I thought I would pick out a sample piece and fact check it:
“UPDATE: Here are some interesting observations about the location of the attacks in London. “I have talked to a few people who have pointed out that Edgware, Aldgate (and Moorgate) and King’s Cross all are in or adjacent to Muslim communities. King’s Cross is the locale of The School of Oriental and African Studies, a highly respected institution teaching and researching Asia, Africa and the Middle East. It is possible that the attacks were as much directed at the Muslim population as much as the city at large.”
1. There are many other stations that are near SOAS, such that Kings Cross is certainly not the local tube station to it. Also, SOAS’s remit not Islam – hence the name.
2. Edgware is 10 miles from Edgware road, which is indeed a Muslim area. However the train was on its way to Edgware Road from somewhere else. The Edgware Road station is at the far end of the Muslim area of the Edgware Road on the boundary of what is certainly not a Muslim area.
3. Aldgate’s nearest Muslim community is Bangladeshi, however it is closest to the rather bigger target, the Financial district.
4. These tube stations are way underground, with no damage to the surface areas.
Like numerology, given the ethnic diversity of London you could pretty much link these three area to any community with similar (in)accuracy.
None of these places show any particular ‘alien’ population pattern any more than a crop circle shows where aliens will land.