One of the intelligence reporters for NBC News faced fierce backlash on social media on Wednesday for referring to London’s terror attack as “small bore.”
Four people were killed and at least 20 people were injured near the British parliament in a terror attack that utilized a vehicle to plow through victims. The knife-wielding suspect was eventually subdued on Westminster Bridge, which prompted NBC’s Ken Dilanian to warn over 17,000 followers not to “freak out.”
“I know it’s a big story, but every time we freak out about a small-bore terror attack we play into their hands,” Mr. Dilian said. “I covered the 7/7 bombings in London. Londoners were back on the Tube by day’s end. They are not going to be terrorized. We shouldn’t either. NBC’s @MattMcBradley reports that Londoners are not panicking. Damned right they’re not. They are going about their business.”
Negative feedback followed.
“@KenDilanianNBC small bore … nobody rich, powerful of famous died,” wrote one reader.
“Family members are still rushing to the sides of the injured and dying as you write these tweets,” added another. “Are you somehow worried that anyone is going to lose their resolve before the blood on the streets coagulates?”
SEE ALSO: London terror attack: Assailant, police officer and two others killed, 20 wounded
“Ken wants America to get used to this as the new normal. Sorry Ken. Not in my country,” wrote a third.
NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch also weighed in.
“Fatalities and injuries are not “small bore,’” Mrs. Loesch tweeted.
Parliament’s lower House of Commons was suspended after the attack while London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that extra police officers would be dispatched.
“We stand together in the face of those who seek to harm us and destroy our way of life,” Mr. Khan said in a statement, Reuters reported. “We always have, and we always will. Londoners will never be cowed by terrorism.”
I know it’s a big story, but every time we freak out about a small-bore terror attack we play into their hands.
— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) March 22, 2017
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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