From statement by Mayor of London, 7.7.2005

[Benbow]

This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Ministers. It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion, or whatever.

That isn't an ideology, it isn't even a perverted faith - it is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. They seek to divide Londoners. They seek to turn Londoners against each other. I said yesterday to the International Olympic Committee, that the city of London is the greatest in the world, because everybody lives side by side in harmony. Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved and that is why I'm proud to be the mayor of that city.

Whatever you do, however many you kill - you will fail. I can show you why you will fail in the days that follow. Look at our airports, look at our seaports and look at our railway stations, and even after your cowardly attacks you will see that people from the rest of Britain, people from around the world will arrive in London to become Londoners and fulfil their dreams and achieve their potential.

[Benbow]

1. Note, no crap about "envying our freedoms" etc

I am not the Mayor's greatest fan but this is powerful stuff and, in my view, far more eloquent than either the Prime Minister ("terrorism is intended to terrorise") or the US President managed today.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Excellent to call on the spirit of unity among Londoners. Similar to

the response given by New Yorkers. Hats off to all.

[tenshi816]

3. The British didn't fall apart under repeated Nazi attacks

and they won't fall apart because of this either. What I believe Americans forget is the sheer number of times the British have been attacked on their homeland in the past. They will not crumble because of these attacks today.