It filters through slowly at first. In amongst the general background conversation at work is the phrase 'bomb threat' - like the dog whistle a type of politics has been named after, my ears prick up - not in a startled fashion, but only to gather further information.
The phrase 'they found four actual bombs, it wasn't just a threat' gets my attention. I check the ABC news website, but it isn't the top story, or even the top two. Off in the breaking news is an article about a bomb threat in Brisbane, around 1100 Brisbane time. The morning alert apparently snarled up the trains for about ninety minutes, or so the gossip spreads around the office.
Public transport will also be stopped between 1645 and 1715, as a precaution. Trains and buses are to be evacuated, and commuters will be led by transport staff a good distance away from the vehicles. The Mayor and Premier are saying they are being overcautious, surely it is a hoax?
With the four bombs 'apparently' found in the morning sweep, the gossip around me is that any attack may be London like. Would they target the ferries - no, the casualty rate within a rail tunnel explosion would mean the ferries would be a bad target. Or so warped terrorist logic may be telling us. News comes they are also stopping the ferries.
A faint edge of concern hangs over the office at this time, not panic so much, just deep concern. Calls go out to friends and family around me, either to touch base or to organise rides home - the calls end in 'I love you' a lot more than usual. A thought of the 9/11 calls home in the face of death comes to mind.
With public transport thrown into chaos, the normal traffic into and out of town is likely to be just as chaotic. People are bringing up maps on their computer, on the phone to loved ones, organising the best routes home.
We hear of public departments being evacuated, and wonder why our centre can't be closed and calls diverted to Sydney or Melbourne. Duty of care, or lack of it, is mentioned quite a bit. Emergency conditions perhaps - I sympathise a bit, but understand it isn't a direct threat on the company.
Surely it is a hoax. Some nutter ringing up just to get some kicks. The 000 emergency hotline has been ringing hot all day apparently. Maybe they got the cells in Sydney and Melbourne but not Brisbane. Were four bombs found or is it just one of those circular self reinforcing rumours.
People start leaving, is it paranoia to wonder whether you will see them tomorrow or not. The edge in the office is knife thin, no, razor thin.
1645 comes. A city in lock down, or at least that is the mental image created by all the gossip and second hand news. I can just imagine gridlock outside in the traffic. Thinking very negatively, who cares about the buses and trains, let's hit the motorways. Or snarled up city streets - I briefly wonder what a truck bomb akin to Beirut, Oklahoma City or Najaf would look like in the concrete canyons of Brisbane's CBD.
Or, with the biggest protests in the country's history expected tomorrow - thank you, ACTU propaganda machine - with the unions marching against the industrial reform changes, wouldn't that be a better target? No, it isn't good going down that track, trying to think like the nutters or terrorists. And everyone in the office is asking, why sleepy little Brisbane?
Most of our concentration and productivity has been out the window for at least two hours. With most of the rest of our nerves shot to bits, an email from one of the team leaders goes around, to be ready to take customer calls. Very frustrating.
The phrase 'they found four actual bombs, it wasn't just a threat' gets my attention. I check the ABC news website, but it isn't the top story, or even the top two. Off in the breaking news is an article about a bomb threat in Brisbane, around 1100 Brisbane time. The morning alert apparently snarled up the trains for about ninety minutes, or so the gossip spreads around the office.
Public transport will also be stopped between 1645 and 1715, as a precaution. Trains and buses are to be evacuated, and commuters will be led by transport staff a good distance away from the vehicles. The Mayor and Premier are saying they are being overcautious, surely it is a hoax?
With the four bombs 'apparently' found in the morning sweep, the gossip around me is that any attack may be London like. Would they target the ferries - no, the casualty rate within a rail tunnel explosion would mean the ferries would be a bad target. Or so warped terrorist logic may be telling us. News comes they are also stopping the ferries.
A faint edge of concern hangs over the office at this time, not panic so much, just deep concern. Calls go out to friends and family around me, either to touch base or to organise rides home - the calls end in 'I love you' a lot more than usual. A thought of the 9/11 calls home in the face of death comes to mind.
With public transport thrown into chaos, the normal traffic into and out of town is likely to be just as chaotic. People are bringing up maps on their computer, on the phone to loved ones, organising the best routes home.
We hear of public departments being evacuated, and wonder why our centre can't be closed and calls diverted to Sydney or Melbourne. Duty of care, or lack of it, is mentioned quite a bit. Emergency conditions perhaps - I sympathise a bit, but understand it isn't a direct threat on the company.
Surely it is a hoax. Some nutter ringing up just to get some kicks. The 000 emergency hotline has been ringing hot all day apparently. Maybe they got the cells in Sydney and Melbourne but not Brisbane. Were four bombs found or is it just one of those circular self reinforcing rumours.
People start leaving, is it paranoia to wonder whether you will see them tomorrow or not. The edge in the office is knife thin, no, razor thin.
1645 comes. A city in lock down, or at least that is the mental image created by all the gossip and second hand news. I can just imagine gridlock outside in the traffic. Thinking very negatively, who cares about the buses and trains, let's hit the motorways. Or snarled up city streets - I briefly wonder what a truck bomb akin to Beirut, Oklahoma City or Najaf would look like in the concrete canyons of Brisbane's CBD.
Or, with the biggest protests in the country's history expected tomorrow - thank you, ACTU propaganda machine - with the unions marching against the industrial reform changes, wouldn't that be a better target? No, it isn't good going down that track, trying to think like the nutters or terrorists. And everyone in the office is asking, why sleepy little Brisbane?
Most of our concentration and productivity has been out the window for at least two hours. With most of the rest of our nerves shot to bits, an email from one of the team leaders goes around, to be ready to take customer calls. Very frustrating.
No comments:
Post a Comment