Following Saturday night’s terror attack on London Bridge, in which seven people were killed and dozens injured by knife-wielding assailants in a white van, the media sprang into action to publicize the latest developments. Many outlets, most notably The New York Times, reported that Britain was “reeling” from its second terrorist attack in two weeks (the Manchester bombing was the first).
The London attacks hit a nation still reeling from the shock of the bombing in Manchester almost 2 weeks ago https://t.co/aapuMBQTmf
— The New York Times (@nytimes) June 4, 2017
The online response from Londoners could basically be summed up as “Reeling? Bollocks.”
This is what "reeling" means in British English @nytimes pic.twitter.com/F9QJ9kaR7X
— Andy L (@A_V_M_L) June 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/matthaig1/status/871295998567608320
The UK is not reeling we weren't after Manchester & we won't be after this shite either
— Spartacus (@nevakissedatory) June 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/Molly_Holloway/status/871334710148034560
Well, as a representative of UK Local Government, I've just fried some eggs and later I'm going to the pub for a beer. #livingnotreeling
— Jane Biscombe (@clerkingabout) June 4, 2017
If you want to call playing cricket followed by brunch with Prosecco 'reeling', you might wish to understand the London definition firstly.
— Matthew Yeager 🌻 🇺🇦 (@mpyeager) June 4, 2017
In the past London has experienced the Blitz, the IRA and countless terrorist plots. A couple of nutters in a van doesn't even register.
— Bulge Temptingly (@bulgetemptingly) June 4, 2017
After the attack, Londoners used the hashtag #ThingsThatLeaveBritainReeling to show what really bothers them. Sample complaints include “Accidental eye contact in the Tube or on the lift.”
John Oliver also addressed the “reeling” controversy on his show Sunday night—he said that “British people are never gonna let terror change their way of life.”
Not all media was criticized, however—NBC News won praise for its coverage of the attacks, though the reason for that praise is somewhat disheartening.
Pres. Trump has used Twitter to share news report on London incident.
We aren't relaying president's retweet, as the info is unconfirmed.
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) June 3, 2017
President Donald Trump retweeted a Drudge Report news alert about the London attack minutes after it occurred (and before he had even had a full security briefing).
As such, while many journalists quoted the tweet and praised NBC for its restraint, they also expressed regret that the president’s Twitter habit made such restraint necessary.
https://twitter.com/poniewozik/status/871150269245116416
Every single American should be embarrassed that a news organization had to issue this statement about the President of the United States. https://t.co/VU39uNxZxJ
— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) June 3, 2017
https://twitter.com/damianpenny/status/871159528875843584
Trump later tweeted that the attack showed the necessity of his travel ban, and he insulted London mayor Sadiq Khan for telling city residents there was “no reason to be alarmed” by increased police presence on the streets.
