The young men screaming “Allahu akbar” don’t appear to have been Muslims: “Spanish media reported that some of those later detained shouted ‘Allah is great’ as well as slogans in favour of the Basque separatist group ETA. But Ricardo Gil-Toresano, the central government’s representative in Seville, said there was no link to extremism. ‘It’s got nothing to do with Islamist groups, ETA, or any known terrorist group,’ he told reporters in comments broadcast on Spanish television….Cecop said three of those arrested were ‘common delinquents.'”
So this appears to be a prank, not a jihad threat. What is noteworthy about it is that the “common delinquents” knew what to shout in order to cause a panic. They knew that screams of “Allahu akbar” would not make the people participating in the Good Friday procession think of peace, or tolerance, or “dialogue.”
Now, why is that? Is it because of “Islamophobia,” or because of jihad attacks around the world?
“Troublemakers Shouting ‘Allah Is Great’ Spark Panic at Seville’s Good Friday Event,” AFP, April 15, 2017:
MADRID (AFP) — Troublemakers sparked panic sparked at Seville’s nighttime Good Friday processions, famed for their religious floats, hooded penitents and crowds of spectators, seriously injuring one person, Spanish authorities said.
Emergency services said eight people were detained in connection with the incidents, from 04:00 local time (0200GMT) on Friday, which sent people running in panic and leaving children in tears along procession routes throughout the city .
One man was later released, though he could still face charges, authorities in the southern Spanish city said.
In a statement, the Cecop centre that oversees security during the annual processions said those detained had “shouted”, used metallic objects to make loud noise or made “wild gesticulations” to create panic in the thousands-strong crowds.
An AFP photographer present said she heard what sounded like a stampede of galloping animals, and then a mass of people pushed towards her.
Standing on the Isabel II bridge that straddles Seville’s Guadalquivir River, she climbed onto a lamppost.
“There were children, women with prams,” she said, adding that some people rushed down steps towards the river, falling over themselves in panic.
“The first thing people think is that there is a terrorist attack.”
Spanish media reported that some of those later detained shouted “Allah is great” as well as slogans in favour of the Basque separatist group ETA.
But Ricardo Gil-Toresano, the central government’s representative in Seville, said there was no link to extremism.
“It’s got nothing to do with Islamist groups, ETA, or any known terrorist group,” he told reporters in comments broadcast on Spanish television.
“They wanted to create the utmost panic with their shouting,” he added.
An initial probe showed that there were three initial movements of panic, which sparked a “domino effect” in other parts of the city, Cecop said.
“These are isolated cases without any apparent connection that are similar to cases of vandalism and hooliganism,” it said.
The situation was later brought back under control and the processions continued.
Cecop said three of those arrested were “common delinquents”.
Some 17 people were taken to hospital for injuries and panic attacks, it said.
One of them was in intensive care in a serious condition with a head injury….
Charli Main says
But—but— but doncha know how PROUD millions of Spanish folk are of their Islamic heritage and the Golden Age of Islam.!!!!
In most Spanish fiestas the Moors are portrayed as ” Nobel Warriors” prancing on their armoured steeds surrounded by glamorous girls dancing in their slave girl costumes.
Westman says
“They wanted to create the utmost panic with their shouting,”
How long before bank robbers and chi-raq thugs are shouting allahu —– ? Will it be trending and click-bait on the Net? Rapper lyrics?
And where did they get the idea that this is a useful phrase for injecting fear? From the religion of peace? Ahh, yes, CAIR tells us it was from the “not real” Muslims who read, one supposes, the “not real” Quran.
Mockingjay says
– Those “common delinquents” ey…
– Especially in Spain, but also in other (North) Western European countries, those “common delinquents” are MOST often “NORTH AFRICANS”.
– Which are, you guessed it, MUSLIMS.\
– Are we seeing a pattern emerging yet..?
Andy says
I was there. Definite panic, heard a few bangs that sounded like gunshots about 200 meters from our balcony along the parade route. Apparently they were teenagers who coordinated the whole thing on WhatsApp, and banged metal poles against the many barricades that line the route and yelled allah allah.
Our waiter tonight said that one man died of a heart attack in the panic. I call that manslaughter. Hope they throw the book at these morons.
Vic says
In one of the newspapers it stated that there was a Senegalese citizen who was detained and charged because when the procession with the Virgen de la Macarena was passing by he was shouting Allahu Akbar. A policeman approached him and asked him to stop and he wouldn’t so they detained and charged with “religious intolerance” and fined him Eu 700. They had four stampedes in four different places and arrested about 17 people, but only 3 ended in jail. They claim there is no connection or premeditated planning among the occurrences.
As you say, Mr. Spencer, it is telling how people everywhere are so responsive to any sort of threat connected with terrorism.
james.mich says
And “common delinquents” are unable to be Muslims and jihadis, because….?
Alec Rawls says
“Common delinquents” is another code word for Muslims, like “youths” and “Asians.” Notice the report does not say the perps are not Muslim, it just says no (known) connections to jihadist groups. Another news report (which added to the misdirection by calling the perps “yobs,” Brit slang for drunken brawlers), listed at least one of the perps as Somalian. Not a traditional “yob” at all.
David says
Anywhere Muslims are in bunchs? Listen for the wind! Allahu akbar…Muslims are masters of propaganda to cause fear! Then when the fear comes. The Muslims will call people names to break people down like cattle! Read the bio of Muhammad. The one chapter Mecca to Medina! You will learn why Muslims follow Muhammad!!! It is a chapter on how to make anyone summit!!!
Christian Beltram says
Perhaps a new trend is starting in which common criminals and troublemakers who have nothing to do with specific terrorist causes like Islamism and Basque separatism will shout sloguns in favor of such causes and falsely claim to fight on behalf of them in order to get more notoriety for themselves.