The aftermath

Today's attacks in London have so far claimed the lives of thirty-seven people and injured hundreds more. The transport system, both in London and beyond, has been severely disrupted and, at least in the capital, is unlikely return to normal for several days.

And yet, there is no sense of panic or despair, only a quiet resolve to carry on despite the carnage, and a fierce determination not to be intimidated. Whatever the perpetrators of today's events hoped to achieve, they are mistaken if they think the British people can be cowed into submission.

Tony Blair's response to the blasts seems characteristic of the national mood:

It's important [...] that those engaged in terrorism realise that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in a desire to impose extremism on the world.

Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilised nations throughout the world.

This evening, my thoughts go out to the victims of today's tragedy and to the families of those who lost their lives.