Iraq stampede deaths near 1,000

[The5thElephant]

BBC Link (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4199618.stm)

Mortar fire and then rumors of a bomb cause massive panic over a bridge killing nearly a 1,000. This is just frightening. Makes me wanna stay away from large gatherings. I was caught in a massive crush during the New York City halloween parade last Halloweed and it was very scary to not be able to move and barely breathe. I was so tightly squeezed my feet weren't touching the ground and I was just being moved around with the tides of the crowd. I can barely imagine something being even tighter than that causing iron railings to collapse.

My thoughts go out to anyone affected by this tragedy.

[SlickWilly]

That is the reason I prefer to watch concerts and gathering and whatnot from a balconey... or disguised as the pope in a replica pope-mobile.

But, seriously.... thats just scary.

[Scribble]

Don't know if its true or not but it sounds like the terrorists planned this, the near side of the bridge was open, the far end sealed. The people where caught in a dead end.

absolutely terrible.

[deathwings]

Its scary,but the chance of something like this happening is no reason to stay away from large groups of people,the chance of something like this happening are very slim.

The pelgrimage to Mekka each year also has many victims,not because of panic,but the sheer amount of people there.

[KON Air]

Don't know if its true or not but it sounds like the terrorists planned this...

Bush is upon us. Sure, Hurricane is a terrorizing act done by Mother Nature, and Bush will contuine his war against sects known as "Breathable Air" and "Ozone Layer"

Ps. Hello, I'm drunk.

[reki]

Yea.. think you got the wrong thread there, KON Air - try the next one over.

[KON Air]

lesson learnt,
No irony whilst drunk.

[Paladin]

I dislike being around other humans in large groups without considering things like this.

[The Collector]

For the most part a suicide bomber won't get more than twenty or thirty people by his shrapnel and explosives. Not unless he uses a car bomb. But, they said it was a suicide bomberman and everyone ran and jumped into the river and pushed others into the river...

But yeah, they ought to be moving in smaller groups. Whoever the heck suggests these large mobs should be shot. They're not even considerate of their people's safety. Maybe they don't care..

[Lawrence]

Where were the army and the police??!!

[The5thElephant]

They were probably right in the area but with that many people (especially in a panic) there is little you can do except try to save as many as you can.

[FatalTheRabbit]

I've always hated panicky people. Most of the deaths were women, and children... Not surprising really, because they are the mostly likely to panic, and the least capable of dealing with the situations such behavior creates. I can imagine the irrational women dragging their children along the ground, and throwing them over into the water.

While it's difficult to judge since I wasn't there, it's hard not to get the feeling that the odds are good that these people(children excluded) don't have anyone to blame, but themselves.

[Nurizeko]

A tragedy indeed, sad when people die, caused by the very attempt to save themselves, and all because someone said scuicide bomber :S.

Suffice to say i would rather watch gatherings from TV or a balcony or somewhere out the way of a massive crowd.

[No Surrender]

It really sounds like someone's idea of a sick, twisted, practical joke.

[The Pope]

The real irony is that this killed far more than any suicide bomber.

[Alex Drake]

There's nothing funny about dead civilians.

[n0z3k1ll3r]

No, but I can see what he means. Terrorism has been hyped up as a threat to the point where the fear of terrorism has just claimed more lives than a real terrorist attack ever could have.

[ThirdDanScoota]

A tragedy indeed. What infuriates me the most is the cause - people trying to save themselves. As i've always said - while an individual may be intelligent, a mob is usually incredibly panicky and/or stupid.

May the dead rest in peace.

[The Collector]

Whoever said suicide bomber is either dead or he wishes he was. :/

[n0z3k1ll3r]

A tragedy indeed. What infuriates me the most is the cause - people trying to save themselves. As i've always said - while an individual may be intelligent, a mob is usually incredibly panicky and/or stupid.Sort of reminds me of Agincourt. Most of the French casualties were from them actually trampling each other to death when the terrain they were attacking over narrowed suddenly.