Dentist branded a terrorist after taking pictures of landmark shopping centre

Andy Dolan
UK Daily Mail
Tuesday, Aug 12, 2008

When dentist Andrew Medina travelled to Birmingham for a photography exhibition, it was perhaps only natural that the amateur snapper should want to take a few pictures of his own.

But as he took pictures of one of the city’s landmark buildings from the street outside, Dr Medina was approached by two security guards and accused of being a terrorist.

The dental surgeon told of his shock after the incident outside the imposing Mailbox development in the city centre.

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The former Royal Mail sorting office is now a mix of designer shops, galleries, hotels, bars and restaurants, including the Malmaison hotel where Dr Medina was staying for the weekend with his girlfriend.

He said: ‘I did what many thousands of people have done before: I walked out of the hotel and immediately, standing in the street I began to take photographs of this iconic Birmingham building, the building that myself and my girlfriend were happily paying to stay in.

‘What happened next can only be described as horrible.’

He said he was confronted by two male security officers working for the Mailbox, and one of them proceeded to ask the 45-year-old dentist why he was taking photographs.

He described the demeanour of the security guard who questioned him as ‘menacing’ and said the other attempted to grab his camera. He was then told he was banned from entering the Mailbox.

Dr Medina, of Didsbury, South Manchester, said: ‘I was then told that I must be a terrorist putting the Mailbox under surveillance.’

He added, ‘I am sorry to say that, with respect, that is pathetic. There is no other way to describe this suggestion.

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8 Responses to “Dentist branded a terrorist after taking pictures of landmark shopping centre”

1. BeTrueSeekTruth Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 4:30 am

   When I was a child and saw Santa Claus at the department store, I was in awe and reverently told him what I wanted for Christmas. As I grew older and noticed many “Santa Clauses” on the street, in tv ads and in countless other stores simultaneously I saw through the veneer, and felt mad and then sad for those who participated in propping up the lie. I lost respect for these people, especially as they renewed their vow to the lie to a new crop of children year by year. The toy soldiers of the illuminati can snarl and spew all they want. The only thing they’re doing is eviscerating their own credibility and sanity. A lie is a lie is a lie. You just can’t sell it after its been uncovered.

2. MAR Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 6:58 am

   BTST…nice one.

3. Drew Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 7:27 am

   Will this affect all Andrew Medina’s across the globe?

4. Steve Williams Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 11:04 am

   The whole world has been gulping down stupidity pills, handful after handful.

   Why?

   And nearly the whole human population has become uselessly preoccupied with various ways that people can be sadistically abusive to other people.

   Why?

5. Steve James Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

   Best to concentrate on taking lots and lots of porn pictures because that sounds more socially acceptable these days than general street images and pictures of buildings. How times have changed.

6. Bleedin' obvious Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

   I had a numpty security guard try this with me about a year ago. I just told him to FO and carried on taking pictures.

7. widdow Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

   Well while were on about police state look at this poor guy a market trader drops his cigerette end, knowing a army of council workers comes at the end of the day to remove the stalls, cardboard boxes, carry bags, and all the other rubbish tonnes of it tbh. even with a machine which sweeps the market.

   http://www.chad.co.uk/shirebro.....4350232.jp

8. ken Says:
   August 12th, 2008 at 11:00 pm

   You have to wonder how those security guards could say that with a straight face. I mean, isn’t it pretty common for people to take pictures of public landmarks? Do they hassle everyone that takes pictures?

   These guys are either having some sadistic fun with the dentist, or they were dumber than turnips.

   Ken
   http://www.LaserGuidedLoogie.com