Commentary

Paul McDougall
Editor At Large, InformationWeek  

Outsourcing May Not Be Popular, But Letter Bombs?

Somebody is sending letter bombs to businesses in the U.K. The two attacks to date were both directed toward outsourcing companies. Just a coincidence?

Somebody is sending letter bombs to businesses in the U.K. The two attacks to date were both directed toward outsourcing companies. Just a coincidence?According to the Associated Press, on Tuesday morning a small parcel exploded at the offices of Vantis PLC, a provider of outsourced tax and accounting services.

A day earlier, a letter bomb blew up at the London offices of Capita Group, PLC. Among other things, Capita handles collection of London's widely detested congestion charge for automobile commuters. Minor injuries resulted in both attacks, the AP says.


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As for suspects and possible motives, that's unclear right now. Nothing has been reported so far that would suggest these companies are in any way linked, other than the fact that both provide outsourced business services.

Is the perpetrator someone who recently lost their job due to outsourcing? Does the perp even know that these are outsourcing companies? Back office work is hardly a field one enters expecting to one day be eligible for combat pay.

But all we know right now is that there is a bomber on the loose in London and right now outsourcers are his or her favorite target.

To date, the backlash against outsourcing has been largely peaceful. Is that about to change?


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