Pint-clutching man becomes symbol of London's defiance

The internet is reacting to the picture of a man carrying a pint of beer post-London attack in the middle of a mob


/// June 05, 2017
PHOTO: REUTERS

A man pictured calmly taking his pint of beer with him as other people fled past him during Saturday's deadly attack in London has been cast as an unlikely hero who encapsulates British humour and defiance.

Dressed in a red t-shirt and sauntering casually with a friend, the drinker stood out in Sky News footage of men and women running down Borough High Street, away from the London Bridge scene of the attack that left seven people dead and 48 injured.

London attack: Woman's act of restraining terrorists 'saves 20 lives'

The image spread like wildfire across Twitter and British newspapers said the man, whose identity is unknown, was a symbol of defiance.

"True symbol of the British spirit as man flees terrorist attack clutching his pint," said student Henry Slesser on Twitter.



Others joked that it was only right that he should take his beer with him, given London's notoriously high prices.

"Evacuate? Well, OK. But this beer cost six pounds ($7.74) a pint. I'm taking it with me," said another Twitter user, Andrew Brooks.

https://twitter.com/taxbod/status/871255328809267201

Londoners take pride in, and sometimes joke about, showing fortitude during adversity.

Tourist shops are awash with memorabilia emblazoned with "Keep calm and carry on", a slogan drawn from a World War Two poster that became popular in the last 10 years.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said the vote would go ahead as planned on Thursday.

Residents of the northern English city Manchester also looked to their city's culture for solace after a suicide bombing at a pop concert killed 22 people and injured 116 nearly two weeks ago, Britain's deadliest attack in almost 12 years.

Manchester attack probe: 13 people in detention

Andrew Brooks' tweet has stirred up quite a reaction on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/haggard_ca/status/871415669224615936



https://twitter.com/OwenJones101/status/871336319523450880

While some thought his look was incomplete:

https://twitter.com/strxer/status/871462320710467584

Others thought this was more than just need for beer:



But overall, Twitter seemed to be really happy with him:



https://twitter.com/ImAdamHamilton/status/871308661041364992

 

COMMENTS

Replying to X

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.

For more information, please see our Comments FAQ