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The bin removal was actually prompted by a period when the IRA would put bombs into bins in train stations etc., see eg

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrington_bomb_attacks

So not a completely idiotic policy.

For a while there was a solution involving “hoop” bins with clear plastic bags so you could see what was inside them.

But recent terror attacks (which used knives and vehicles, not bins) prompted their removal again.

Wait, that doesn't make any sense. If the see-through bins solved a problem, why would they be removed when a different problem appears? They're independent problems, removing the bins when they're not involved in the new kind of attacks seems just random.

Yep, pretty much. I live not-in-London and during one of the heightened periods of security last year (armed police everywhere) all clear bag bins were removed from the metro and bus stations. This of course led to littering. It didn't make any sense.

I cant speak for London, but the bin clampdown was definitely post 11/7(there may have been a clamp down with the IRA that I'm too young to remember with a bin liberalisation in the 90s?). I also don't get the unattended luggage announcements. Because suicide bombers leave their bombs unattended? They should be searching everyone with bags /rant

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