With a third attempted car bomb attack, this one at the Glasgow Airport in Scotland, it's clear that the United Kingdom is under attack.
A slideshow of the aftermath of the Glasgow attack is here.
From the standpoint of the attackers, this is no less serious than the bombing of London in World War II. The difference is that this war is being played out in slow motion.
Update 1: One of the Glasgow Airport car bombers was wearing a suicide belt. The bomber who caught fire (perhaps the same man) was throwing punches at the scene and shouting "Allah! Allah!"
Details from the New York Times:
LONDON, Sunday, July 1 — British officials raised the country’s terrorism threat alert to its highest level on Saturday after two men slammed an S.U.V. into entrance doors at Glasgow Airport and turned the vehicle into a potentially lethal fireball.
Less than 38 hours earlier the police uncovered two cars in London rigged to explode with gasoline, gas canisters and nails.
Early Sunday, after a day of fast-moving developments, the London police announced that two people had been arrested in Cheshire, in northwest England, “in connection with the events in London and Scotland.”
The arrests were in addition to those of the two occupants of the blazing car at Glasgow Airport. A witness to the attack said on BBC television that one of the car’s occupants had been ablaze from head to foot, and as he struggled with the police, “was throwing punches and shouting ‘Allah, Allah.’ ”
Britain's threat level is now at “critical,” meaning another attack is considered imminent. The threat has not been as high since last year, after authorities discovered what they called a plot to attack trans-Atlantic airliners with liquid explosives.
A British security official, who like many other officials who disclosed information insisted on anonymity, said Saturday that the heightened level reflected an assessment that the London and Glasgow cases were “linked in some ways and, therefore, there are clearly individuals who have the capability and intent to carry out further attacks.”
The links relate to the way the London car bombs and Glasgow airport attack were planned, using vehicles and gasoline, the official said. . . . .
Although there were questions throughout the day about whether the Glasgow vehicle crashed intentionally, by Saturday night, Sir William Rae, the chief constable of the Strathclyde area around Glasgow, said it was an act of terrorism.
Mr. Rae said one of the two men was found to be wearing a “suspicious device” at the hospital where he was being treated, and the hospital was evacuated. Mr. Rae declined to comment on reporters’ suggestions that the assailant — said to be in critical condition — had been wearing an explosive belt. A person with knowledge of the investigation, however, said that the device was a suicide belt, and also that the car contained propane canisters.
More details from eyewitnesses here.
Update 2: In internet reaction, Gateway Pundit notes that some people who witnessed the airport attack and the terrorist suspect whose clothes were on fire shouted "let him burn!"
After the crash, one of men, whose clothes were on fire, jumped out of the car and ran into the terminal building where he was tackled by a heroic holidaymaker.
The outside of the terminal building in flames after this afternoon's explosion.
Police then jumped on top of him as flames continued to rise from his body while terrified onlookers fled in all directions.
One eyewitness, who knocked the terrorist suspect over with his forearm said: "The man was wrestling with police on the ground.
"I had seen him and the other man get out of the car. The flames were burning through his clothes. Police were telling everybody to get back.
"Some people who were close by shouted "let him burn". I saw the holidaymaker who had tackled him with blood streaming from his face and I myself had knocked into him with my forearm."
The pair were held down before police led them away.
And what do websites on the left have to say about the latest car bombings? Apparently not a whole lot. Check out See No Terrorism, Hear No Terrorism at Wizbang.
For lively discussion, check out Lucianne.
Update 3: Check out Sister Toldjah for more commentary, including thoughts on whether Prime Minister Gordon Brown is being tested by jihadists, and whether his response to the attacks has been too tepid.
Update 4: U.K. police are hot on the trail of the terrorists responsible for the attacks. The suspects being detained include two doctors.
Update 5: Here are more details and photos (WARNING: graphic). This includes a photo of the badly burned jihadist who set himself on fire in the attack at the Glasgow Airport.
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