Official News page 7

REAL LIFE NEWS: HALLOWEEN PARTY-GOERS MISTAKEN FOR TERRORISTS

by Hazed

Sometimes the things that get done in the name of "anti-terrorism" are just so absurd you wonder if everyone in authority has lost their minds. They've certainly lost all sense of proportion.

A group of students that decided to hold a Halloween party with the theme of "Mad Scientist" last week found themselves mistaken for terrorists. The private party was organized by a group of friends, who dressed up in white lab coats and mad-scientist-type wigs, and put on a display of theatrical experiments to entertain their guests. But when police entered the building in Hackney, North London, UK, they spotted the scientific paraphernalia and thought it was terrorist kit, or maybe drug-making equipment. They arrested the property's caretaker under the anti-terrorism act and questioned him while evacuating the whole area and cordoning off roads with police tape. Three fire engines and three ambulances were also called to the scene.

Meanwhile, Watson, who is 29 years old, says he was "handcuffed and put in the back of the police van for over an hour while the bomb squad and drugs team came down. There was a ridiculous amount of police there. Every time I looked out of the van I could see a new group of them swarming around." He was searched and interrogated and told he was being arrested on suspicion of making explosives.

Amongst the dangerous substances used in the mad scientists' experiments were food coloring, bicarbonate of soda and vinegar.

Another of the mad scientists, Timmy Sampson, explained, "I brought down my childhood chemistry set and a few teddy bears for us to dissect in front of our friends. It was hilarious, we were making things fizz and pop and throwing talcum powder around. It was like a performance art piece. The police saw all the mess and assumed that we were making bombs which I thought was a bit presumptuous considering it had just been Halloween."

Police later released Watson without charge. A spokesperson made a bland statement that didn't explain any of the things we want to know... like: how did the police get involved in raiding a private party in the first place? Did some nosy neighbor phone in a tip? Or do they make a habit of checking out Halloween parties just to make sure there's nothing illegal going on?

The party sounds like it was a lot of fun, but what a frightening way for it to end!

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