London Burning with Fear and Terror?
July 8, 2005 5:51 PM
"Our mujahideen have carried out a blessed invasion in London and here is Britain now burning with fear and terror ... " Stated an e-mail widely considered to be from the group responsible for yesterdays attacks in London.
I was in London yesterday and unable to get my car out of Euston Station car park, was for a while stranded. I did not see a London filled with Fear and Terror. I saw defiant Londoners, visitors to the city, tourists and workers going about their business as best they could.
London defiantly returns to work.
The police set up cordons around the affected areas and along routes to hospitals, emergency services attended to the injured and as the transport system shut down a calm silence descended across the city. People took to the streets to get around and I wondered just how easier it was to move around the city on foot. Police fielded enquiries as to when stations and car parks would re open and the public accepted inconvenience with good humour. I saw no anger, no irritation at the inconvenience, I saw no recriminations against our Muslim neighbours. I saw members of the public bringing the Police tea and coffee, talking about the days events, checking on family and friends. I walked along the traffic free streets to the University to see a friend.
Politicians and public figures across the political spectrum have stated that in a free society it is impossible to prevent cowardly and tragic attacks on the most vulnerable areas of our infrastructure. Tragic for the families of the victims and tragic also the possibility that residents, possibly even citizens of this country rather then enjoying the freedom we take for granted, may have planned such attacks. It is tragic to consider that young men can be manipulated into believing that becoming a suicide bomber is a path to glory.
How can we fight such evil? Yesterday London fought back as it always has, no stranger to attack, by carrying on as free citizens. Today London defiantly returned to work by Bus, Train, Tube and by foot. London can be proud of how it responded to the attacks of July 7th.
London burning with fear and terror..? They are mistaken.
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