The Kofferbombers

It is fast turning into the month of defused bomb attempts. In addition to the foiled bombing attempts on UK airports at the start of August, it has this week been revealed that Germany also narrowly escaped its own terrorist attack on 31 July. A group of persons dubbed as the Kofferbombers (suitcase bombers) are reported to have hidden propane bombs in suitcases on two german regional trains.
The coordinated attacks were due to take place concurrently on two separate trains travelling between regional centres near to the French border. In the German press, experts have dismissed the bombs as being amateur in their construction - and have therefore ruled out any link to large terrorist organisations.

Nevertheless, since the start of the month a number of arrests have been made in connection with the foiled attacks and security has been noticeably tightened at German train stations. In Berlin this week a man was prosecuted for police deception. He was holding a bag and making ticking noises and is reported to have joked with railway security that "there's one in here". al

Berlin in London

After two weeks away in England, the author was struck by the many differences between London and Berlin. Whilst Londoners read of more bomb scares and the dropping of Beckham at 7am on the tube, Berlin continues to get up at 10am and then consider going to work on its bike - after a trip to the baker ofcourse! Needless to say the London capital wins hands down for tailored suits too.

However it's good to see that a bit of Berlin is rubbing off on London. Never known for its particularly alternative street scene (Camden aside ofcourse), London is now flocking to Shoreditch, an area north of Liverpool St station. Populated by perpetual students and young professionals (who still wish that they were!), Shoreditch even has its own local street artist.