Posted on 11/13/2008 8:49:04 AM PST by BGHater
A group of students had their 'Mad Scientist' party brought to an abrupt end when police mistook them for terrorists.
The private party, held in Hackney, north London, was organised by a group of friends dressed in white laboratory coats and wigs, who put on a display of theatrical 'experiments' to entertain guests.
But when police entered the building for a routine check in the early hours of Sunday morning, they discovered scientific debris and plastic skeletons and mistook it for terrorist paraphernalia or drug-making equipment.
The Bearded Kitten/Sugar House Gang's private party was brought to an end by police who mistook them for terrorists
Caretaker of the property, Richard Watson, 29, was arrested under The Anti-Terrorism Act and questioned while the entire area was evacuated and roads cordoned off with police tape.
He said: 'I was handcuffed and put in the back of the police van for over an hour while the bomb squad and drugs team came down.
'There was a ridiculous amount of police there. Every time I looked out of the van I could see a new group of them swarming around.'
Three fire engines and three ambulances were also called to the scene as Mr Watson was searched and interrogated.
One of the group, Timmy Sampson, said the party was 'like a performance art piece'
He said: 'They told me they were arresting me on suspicion of making explosives. I laughed at first but then I realised they were being serious.
'I appreciate that the police are under a lot of pressure and they have to be very cautious about terrorist issues but this was all just food colouring, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar.'
Police later released Mr Watson without charge.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Fun is no longer permissible in the liberal paradise of the UK.
Awwwwwwwwww. What a cute kid.
I guess more Fascism from that Nanny State, the United KKKingdom
I think something is missing from the article...the location.
Sounds like it was at a building normally closed at night or something and thus the checks of checking windows and doors to make sure they’re locked up.
Oh yeah.
Plastic skeletons are “tools of the trade” for all successful terrorists.
Is there an intelligence test for becoming a police officer?
Judge Rules That Police Can Bar High I.Q. ScoresA Federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a man who was barred from the New London police force because he scored too high on an intelligence test.
In a ruling made public on Tuesday, Judge Peter C. Dorsey of the United States District Court in New Haven agreed that the plaintiff, Robert Jordan, was denied an opportunity to interview for a police job because of his high test scores. But he said that that did not mean Mr. Jordan was a victim of discrimination.
Judge Dorsey ruled that Mr. Jordan was not denied equal protection because the city of New London applied the same standard to everyone: anyone who scored too high was rejected.
Hey...Jeff Dunham gets lots of terrorist mileage from a plastic skeleton!
So they WANT police officers to be stupid?
LOL!
"Lady, I want to get to the bottom of this, ASAFP. But first, I'd like to ... (snip)"
when police entered the building for a routine check
UK.
when police entered the building for a routine check Say what?
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The Brits have no search warrant issues. Give Barry enough time and neither will we.
There was a recent article about home chemistry labs being raided by several three-letter-agencies back here in the US. Apparently here you enjoy your chemistry hobby at your own risk.
Reminds me of a Monty Python skit where the police come into a guy’s apartment looking for “certain substanceeeeees”.
I knew that but the word “routine” threw me. They routinely walk into houses?
When first reading the headline, it seemed certain that the police had reports of priests or Christians gathering. But, instead, the UK has just given the US yet another glimpse of our future, coming soon to a neighborhood watch near you.
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