Man held as terrorism suspect for listening to the Clash
 

Man held as terrorism suspect over punk song

LONDON (Reuters) - British anti-terrorism detectives escorted a man from a plane after a taxi driver had earlier become suspicious when he started singing along to a track by punk band The Clash, police said Wednesday.

Detectives halted the London-bound flight at Durham Tees Valley Airport in northern England and Harraj Mann, 24, was taken off.

The taxi driver had become worried on the way to the airport because Mann had been singing along to The Clash's 1979 anthem "London Calling," which features the lyrics "Now war is declared -- and battle come down" while other lines warn of a "meltdown expected."

Mann told British newspapers the taxi had been fitted with a music system which allowed him to plug in his MP3 player and he had been playing The Clash, Procol Harum, Led Zeppelin and the Beatles to the driver.

"He didn't like Led Zeppelin or The Clash but I don't think there was any need to tell the police," Mann told the Daily Mirror.

A Durham police spokeswoman said Mann had been released after questioning -- but had missed his flight.

"The report was made with the best of intentions and we wouldn't want to discourage people from contacting us with genuine concerns," she said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060405/od_nm/clash_dc

WHAT THE FUCK?!

Okay.. I'm pretty chill with a lot of the shit around here... but do NOT fuck with THE CLASH!

And REALLY..? The bloody cabbie had never heard London Calling?!

This is illogical... methinks I smell a rat!

Lol omg he was "held" against his will for questioning, oh no not questioning! Lol news is such a fucking joke nowadays.

When I heard the guy on the radio yesterday I sort of thought he made up being taken off the plane until I heard the police comment.

So music choice in your car before a flight is worthy of being taken off a flight now?

If I complained to the police about you sitting at the park looking strangely at children, they have the right to question you, especially if you do no cooperate you could be taken in and held for questioning.

Stop acting like this is a travesty, the cab driver obviously is an idiot and doesnt recognize a song vs real comments lol, but the issue remains that law enforcement is given leads by the public all the time and harmlessly questioning someone(although maybe inconvienent) is NOT against the law.

If you aint got nothing to hide its not big deal. The cabbie was wrong, but imagine if had actually tipped the cops off to someone who really was dangerous, the lives possibly saved is worth a few inconvienences.

I suspect the people who bitch about being questioned by the police must have a lot to hide ehh?

Also lets not forget this story is written by the news agencies with the sole purpose of inflaming the emotions of people who reject any type of authority, obviously it works with some of you - hence my comment about this news article being a joke.

kill the Queen

Well that is pretty lame

I wonder if Killing an Arab by The Cure is ok

^^ big brother.

You've really done it now. :helpme

Just remember that the world is a much safer place now.

Everytime I play that song I think about what the reaction would be if it was released today. Great song though.

said the Queen :winkwink:

Right so now who pays for his missed flight seeing as he was innocent? I suspect I would comply with anyone that wanted to question me but you better beleive I would comment on it afterwards if I was stopped for something as stupid as this. Who was it that said the people shouldn't be afraid of their gov't but their gov't should be afraid of their people.

It sounds more like reds under the bed to me than anything of real concern. I mean hell...the Clash have 'worse' songs. If he was singing 'London's Burning' then *maybe* it might raise an eyebrow if I didn't know the song.

Something tells me that Stummer would have loved this story.

I'm all for that... :pimp

she is immortal

i give her an extra century of life easily

Damned Scottish insurgents...

We won't let you win the Calcutta cup next year if you keep this up!

:winkwink:

LOL they even blamed Marilyn Manson for Columbine

Extreme paranoia..

how thats amazing. i love the clash.

You got to be kidding me

Since when?