It was a horrific day yesterday. The terrorist attacks on London that have killed and injured so many people are truly atrocious for their callousness and indiscriminate nature, timed no doubt to cause the maximum injury. Somehow it seemed all the more stark - hard though that was - given the scenes of jubilation following London’s success in securing the 2012 Olympics.
Yet London is a resilient place. It’s taken a lot of beating over the years, and always came through. The people are a stoic lot who will not be cowed by this base attempt to terrorise them. Whilst I’m sure many will reconsider using the tube, especially over the next few days, I think many will continue to go about their daily lives simply because that is the best thing to do, and the most effective snub an individual can make at the terrorists themselves.
When I lived in London myself, I was always conscious that there was a real threat of just such an atrocity occurring, even before September 11th. There was always a real threat from certain Irish terrorist groups, especially after Manchester and Omagh where civilians were directly targeted. But the threat of terrorism, whilst sometime making me feel more than a little nervous, never got in the way of going about my business. Sure I was nervous when I had to go into Canary Wharfs towers, particularly the iconic 1 Canada Square, but the risks are so slight given the size of the city, it’s almost foolish to be overly concerned about being caught up in something. But such a fear didn’t even cross our minds in our decision to leave London. That was for altogether different, personal, reasons.
So while I’m relieved that everybody I know has escaped unscathed, my thoughts are with those who have been affected by this atrocity.
See also
- A letter to the terrorists, from London :: to the point!
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