[iwar] [fc:E-Mails.Aim.to.Sow.Unease.After.Afghan.Strikes]

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2001-10-09 21:02:19


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Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2001 21:02:19 -0700 (PDT)
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Subject: [iwar] [fc:E-Mails.Aim.to.Sow.Unease.After.Afghan.Strikes]
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E-Mails Aim to Sow Unease After Afghan Strikes

By Stephen Cunningham, Reuters, 10/9/2001
<a href="http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011009/wr/attack_britain_emails_dc_1.html">http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20011009/wr/attack_britain_emails_dc_1.html>

U.S.-British air strikes on Afghanistan (news - web sites) have
unleashed a torrent of e-mails in Britain playing on widespread fears of
reprisals at home. 

Police say since the first bombs and missiles landed on Afghan soil on
Sunday, thousands of Britons have received telephone calls and e-mails
warning them their home city was about to come under attack from a
shadowy group. 

The warnings have taken on credence because Britain is Washington's
closest ally in its campaign against Osama bin Laden (news - web sites),
chief U.S.  suspect in the September 11 suicide attacks in New York and
Washington. 

The tip-off is usually made by a ``friend of a friend'' who is told by a
mysterious Arab stranger to stay home and out of danger in the days
ahead. 

Variations regarding time and place usually put the mystery stranger in
a post office or petrol station queue, although he has also been spotted
in Harrods, the luxury London department store, and its chic rival
Harvey Nichols. 

Whatever the detail, one constant runs throughout. 

The tales invariably unfold as an act of kindness -- not as a bid to
scaremonger -- in which a stranger with special knowledge rewards a
friendly act with a tip-off about a certain city center or form of
public transport fraught with risk. 

Police have struggled to know how best to handle the messages and have
decided against issuing a special warning for fear of sowing yet more
panic. 

``We're in a difficult position, because we don't want to dissuade
members of the public from reacting to the information they are being
sent, despite the fact that a lot of these hoaxes are going around,''
said a police spokesman. 

MYTHS SURFACE WITH CRISES

``There have been all kinds of myths in the past about people being
attacked by syringes and injected with AIDS (news - web sites),'' said
David Sutton, managing editor of Fortean Times, a monthly magazine which
investigates strange phenomena. 

``But the format is the same -- there is a very strong core structure to
the story and then a number of elaborations and variations around it,''
he said. 

``At a time like this they may get more credence than usual,'' he added. 

According to one e-mail doing the rounds, a man of Arab descent is seen
shopping in Harvey Nichols, an upmarket department store. 

He wants to buy a scarf but is one pound ($1.45) short.  The shop
assistant offers to make up the difference herself. 

``The guy was very grateful and in response told her as a favor to avoid
the tube (London Underground) on Monday and Tuesday and stay clear of
places like Westminster and the City (London's financial district) as
the terrorists are going to retaliate,'' read the ominous e-mail. 

``This time it will be London that bears the brunt of the attacks.''

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