Purple powder thrown at uk pm

[walker]

Hi all

Rather distubing a purple powder was thrown at Tony Blair and the rest of the UK Cabinet in the houses of parliment during primeministers question time.

Does any one know of a poison that colour?

It May just have been powdered paint.

At least three objects were thrown one hit Tony Blair on the back raising a cloud in front of John Prescot (Deputy Primeminister) and Gordon Brown The Chancelor.

More Later walker

[Llauma]

Hi all

Rather distubing a purple powder was thrown at Tony Blair and the rest of the UK Cabinet in the houses of parliment during primeministers question time.

More Later walker

Propably makeup so Blair will look good hot at the date with Bush.

[aj_addons]

i cant say im suprised that something like his would happen

[walker]

Hi all

UK House of commons suspended.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3728617.stm

Walker

[aj_addons]

there just saying that it wasnt poison or anything just harmless powder

[walker]

Hi all

Latest news on BBC it was a balloon filled with purple powder. Thrown possibly by a protester about Fathers rights (To do with Child Support and visiting rights after divorce)

There was a large Palistinian Deligation in the Gallery as well here to discuss getting the ME roadmap back on track.

Walker

[denoir]

Quote[/b] ]LONDON, England (CNN) -- A House of Commons session has been suspended after purple powder was thrown at Prime Minister Tony Blair, sparking major security fears.

A fathers' rights group shortly afterwards claimed responsibility for the attack, Reuters reported Wednesday.

Blair flinched as two powder missiles were thrown at him during Prime Minister's Question Time. One of them appeared to hit Blair in the back and some of the powder hit Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, who was sitting next to Blair.

A man in a suit was seen to stand up in the public gallery and was heard to shout "do you realize" and "five years."

Two men were grabbed by security officers, Sky News TV reported, and Speaker Michael Martin immediately suspended the weekly PMQs session.

The incident is a huge embarrassment for parliament's security staff and a major security inquiry seems certain.

The latest demonstration comes just weeks after a screen was installed in front of the rest of the public gallery amid fears of a possible terrorist attack.

MPs approved that security measure after Commons leader Peter Hain warned that spy chiefs had told the government of a specific threat to the Commons.

He said security officials had warned anthrax could be used. Under a further crackdown, MPs securing passes for guests to use the un-screened galleries have to personally vouch for them.

The two men pounced from the front three rows of the gallery, which are usually occupied by peers and distinguished guests and are outside the screen.

The powder was thrown from the corner of the gallery, with the protester rushing forward to the railings to hurl it into the chamber.

His fellow protester then held up a poster. Commons doorkeepers rushed to restrain the men, but one continued hurling the powder for several seconds. The two were then dragged away to be taken to cells.

Blair's official spokesman said the powder was being checked to make sure it was innocuous.

The chamber of the house was also being searched. The spokesman said: "The prime minister is perfectly happy to go back in and resume PMQs but the advice from the house is they want to check the chamber and he fully respects the speaker's position on that."

Asked if the powder had been analyzed, the spokesman said: "All that is being checked."

Seems harmless. A bit of a embarrassment for his security detail but nothing more.

[Badgerboy]

Shame, today was quite a good debate. (Rather savage though, as always&#33

Did see the part when he addressed the Palestinian delegation? I'm glad the UK has made its stand on recent events. If only the US would do so in public.

(then again, imagine Bush in the UK parliment at question time. Ho ho ho ho ho)

[Gadger]

Worrying that someone can gain access to the entire UK government and commit this act, could easily of been something more sinister.

[IsthatyouJohnWayne]

I havent seen anything of this on TV but i think it might be a sad day for open government. It may have been harmless today but it will inevitably raise fears of a real attack, further removing (higher profile) politicians from the public.

If its the 'Fathers Group' i think then i sympathise with their views somewhat but im not sure this was the best way for them to protest. In fact with the current level of high alert in the UK it seems more than a little cruel (they almost certainly knew the reaction it would get).

[edit- after the reading the bbc article in full i dont think it was quite that bad after all- though it can still only serve to isolate politicians from the public]