London bombings - We cannot let fear rule our lives

IT was a terrible day for London following the fleeting triumph of its Olympic victory as a series of terror attacks visited death, destruction and mayhem on one of the great cities of the world.

As the bloody toll of fatalities and casualties climbed throughout the day, the appalling scale of this dreadful assault on civil society became all too apparent.

Cynically timed to coincide with the G8 summit, the tragic events are a chilling reminder of the vulnerability of urban society to ruthless fanatics and the enormous difficulties facing democratic governments in protecting cities from attack.