Terrorist employed by Tube Lines sub contractor

Abu Hazma's son worked on the London Underground

What started out as a small piece in Metro had developed into Sheriff Ken being happy to employ terrorists on the Tube, and than making a massive U turn by the time I got home.


In an earlier edition of London Lite "Ken Livingstone today defended the right of Abu Hazma's son to work for a Tube contractor - despite his conviction for terrorism in Yemen"

Basically Ken reckons that Mohammed Kamel Mostafa wasn't actually convicted of terrorism (he was convicted in Yemen in 1999 for plotting to kill Western tourists) and claims that he had passed Tube security checks. Using the old "not like father like son" gambit, Sheriff Ken said we shouldn't restrict Mostafa's right to work simply because his dad is a barking mad maniac who incites murder & racial hatred. Ken said ""You wouldn't say to someone 'you can't work on the Tube because your mum is the editor of The Sun. Has he broken any laws here in Britain? The answer is no. We are happy to have him working for us"

So why was his pass withdrawn when colleagues on the Tube recognised him? Why, then, still, are blokes who look a bit foreign being searched on the Tube? Why do people who swear at security scanners get hauled away by the police? You'd be right for thinking that Ken had lost the plot here. In fact within hours of the press conference the Mayor's office issued a press release in which Ken stated it had been "correct to dismiss him."

Labour MP Andrew Dismore said "It beggars belief. It wasn't like he was nicked for shoplifting. It was terror offences in Yemen. You would think the Underground would be particularly sensitive to terrorism".

Apparently not. An LU spokesman was quick to point any potential finger of fault at the sub-contractor who employed Mostafa and said it was up to them to make criminal checks. "The question of whether the checks were tight enough is a matter for the Government to address. We don't do criminal checks on every single individual who comes onto the London Underground."

I would have loved to have pictured Mostafa's possible interview:

Subcontractor - "What are your interests?"

Mostafa - "Well I don't really get out a lot, particularly in 1999, I kept myself to myself. But I do like rap".

"Mmmm interesting"

"Yep I was thinking about persuing a career in rap, but I haven't really got a hang of the lyrics. I couldn't really find much that rhymed with holy war & Hazma"

"Really. Mmmm, Hazma, Hazma, that name rings a bell. In fact you sort of remind me of someone except you seem to have both eyes and you haven't got a hook for a hand".

"Are you saying I look like a terrorist? Are you saying I look a bit foreign? Are you disrespecting my family?"

"Course not Mr Mostafa the job's yours. Now pop along to those tunnels that run under Westminster. You've got a job to do".

Happy Halloween

Channel Five's Ghosts on the Tube

If you're not out late night trick or treating or at a Halloween Party you might want to watch Channel Five's documentary on Underground Ghosts tonight at 11pm

"Documentary about unexplained phenomena experienced by staff and passengers on the London Underground network. One billion people a year descend 150 feet below London, to the tunnels and stations of the tube, without a second thought for the thousands of graves, church crypts, and plague pits that the Tube has disrupted over its 100 years. Featuring previously unheard accounts from people who work on the network, drivers, station staff and workers."

This should be fairly interesting as I've not really come across any new accounts of ghosts since I built the Tube ghosts page on goingunderground many moons ago.

Meanwhile Rob L sent me a very recently uploaded video of a wild looking Halloween party on the Yamanote Line - one of the busiest subway lines in Toyko


Watch out for those ghouls tonight!

Love on the Tube

Join Orlando Bloom in his hunt to find love



It appears that Orlando Bloom might be seen as a bit of a Line Lothario as he claims that he loves travelling on the Tube as it gives him an excuse to stare at beautiful women.

He told London Lite: "I've always been taken with the Tube. I used to fall in love on the Tube all the time. You sit there opposite someone, your eyes meet, nothing is said and then you both get up and go off into your own worlds. It's like this weird underground network and I've always found it fascinating."

But it doesn't sound as though he's ever made a move as and from his track record of Hollywood beauties such as Kate Bosworth, Uma Thurman & Penelope Cruz, I personally don't think he'd be snuggling up to London commuters just yet.

London Lite also reported that of all places, the Nothern Line seems to be the best place to find romance. Perhaps, it's because people spend so long waiting for trains there it might be the best line to strike up a conversation. Looks like top electro duet Schmoof got it right with their song Northern Line & Sarah from the band kindly let me reproduce the lyrics & the graphic above.

Verse 1

Sarah I take the tube to Waterloo

Boy At Camden Town I spotted you

S And our eyes met over a paper

As we pulled into Leicester Square

B And for only 2 pounds & twenty

Today's journey was worth the fare

Chorus

Both We met on the Northern Line (x2)


Verse 2

S Time's running out here's Charing Cross

B She's dropped her glove I reach across

S & our fingers touched at that moment

Causing both of us to quiver

B & we rode the tube until Morden

I don't go south of the river

Hopefully the Northen Line is going to be Schmoof's second single so we'll get to hear it soon.

Have you found love or a least got a date from meeting someone on the Tube, or do you know anyone who has? One of my friends dated a guy for a while, as they travelled on the same mainline train, but I've never found the Tube to be much of a Love Train.

London Underground Fashion Victims

Fashion Victims on the Tube

Just got back from seeing The Devil Wears Prada and I imagine that Meryl Streep's fashion editor character would be giving a slight purse to her lips in disapproval if she travelled on the London Underground. Not only are the women more than a size 8 and look like they eat carbs, but I don't think their unique "look" would make the pages of her Vogue-a-like Runway magazine.

First Uggs of Autumn

Ah, we know that winter's on the way and with the clocks going back this weekend its time to brush down those Uggs - or rather in this case, not brush them down as they're very grubby looking


She's clearly trying with the knock off designer bag, but it's a shame she felt the need to attach a pink furry err... blob and a pink ribbon too. But I shouldn't criticise too much as maybe it's a nod to Breast Cancer Awareness month. Pity we can't have an Ugg Awareness month, where we're allowed to point at people wearing Ugss and say "Are you aware of how ridiculous you look?".

Yellow Swoosh meets yellow Chequers

Really not sure what's going on with this guy's turn ups here. I looked around for a push bike, but nothing in sight.


I wonder if he always wears yellow socks with his yellow & grey Nikes. One can only hope he's not a doctor as the socks are almost approaching "novelty socks" which have apparently been banned by the NHS.

Glamour at Glamoursmith

They don't call Hammersmith, Glamoursmith for nothing.


Trendy little cap, check. Trendy fur trimmed jacket, check. Oversized T shirt dress, check. Micro denim mini skirt with heavy tights, check.

But as you look down it all starts to go a bit Pete Tong.


Why do you have a scarf tied around your boot? Is it that your boot is feeling a bit chilly? Or perhaps it was to hide a hole?

Minnie Mouse Wears Platforms

Twiggy trousers, zig zag tights and Minnie Mouse shiny patent black and red shoes.


As Shazza Osbourne would say - Fabulous!

That's it for this week. The previous victims can be found here and the complete picture gallery can be seen on the following Flickr set.

FluTube?

Anti-Flu Spray on the London Underground?

Yet, another cold and flu story, a couple of weeks ago the London Paper got us into thinking that coughing could be "banned" on the Tube and now it seems that carriages could be sprayed with disinfectant to protect us underground.


Hong Kong is among the first cities to test one of the latest anti-flu products, nano silver-titianium dioxide coating, or the more snappy acronym NSTDC. Apparently it is applied to all surfaces inside a subway car that passengers commonly touch. The preliminary tests conducted in Hong Kong show that the disinfectant reduces the amount of bacteria by 60 percent and it looks like the London Underground might be heading the same way.

"In Hong Kong, NSTDC is spread everywhere, including escalator handrails, ticket machines and poles. This product is long lasting, according to the MTR spokesman. It is only spread once every three years and checked once every eight months."

The guys and gals at TfL have shown some interest in this and are monitoring the results. "If it is proved to be effective, then we would consider using it," said Stuart Ross, spokesman for Transport for London. However, if you think you'll be seeing blokes in white suits with sprays in the next couple of months you'll be wrong, as Ross continued "But we will not use it this winter".


Metro reports that TfL have plans for dealing with flu working with the Government and other agencies, but there's no mention as to what those plans are.

Perhaps they weren't prepared to cough up the 1.5 million dollars that the spraying system is costing the MTR and feel that a "Wash your hands after using the Tube" sign might be much cheaper.