Main focus of Friday, July 7, 2006

One year after the London attacks

On July 7, 2005, London's public transport was struck by four suicide attacks. This tragic anniversary is an opportunity to reflect upon the steps taken by the British to fight terrorism, and to salute the sang-froid of ordinary citizens.

Le Soir - Belgium

"A year ago today four suicide bombers exploded their deadly charges on London's public transport: 52 dead, 770 wounded," recalls Margaret Beckett, Britain's foreign secretary. "Some of the victims had white skin, others not; some were British, others not; among their number were believers - and non-believers - from every religion. Timed for the busy rush hour, this inhuman act was meant to cause as much chaos and physical suffering as possible. In many ways, the terrorists failed ... So, one year on, have things changed? Yes, our attachment to the values most dear to us - freedom, tolerance and justice - is even stronger and deeper, as is our connection to the countries of the Islamic world that share this ideal." (07/07/2006)

» to the homepage (external link, Le Soir)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » United Kingdom
All available articles from » Margaret Beckett

The Guardian - United Kingdom

"One year on, it seems an event that many thought would mark a collective watershed has barely changed us," writes columnist Jonathan Freedland. "From our habits of leisure and transport, to our attitudes to politics, to the way we live with each other, the bombings have not had the impact many expected. We could mark today's anniversary with another poster: London carried on [an allusion to the famous Second World War poster, 'London Underground carried on']. ... In the US, September 11 had led to a strong urge to hit back, an impulse that made both the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq possible. But there was little of that sentiment in Britain after July 7. ... On the contrary, July 7 brought a kind of backlash against the prime minister, as many demanded he admit what to them seemed obvious: that the London attacks were, in part, driven by Islamist anger at the Iraq war." (07/07/2006)

» full article (external link, English)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Religion, » Weltanschauung, » United Kingdom
All available articles from » Jonathan Freedland

Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland

Ulrich Meister notes that relations between the British and their Muslim population are still marred by mutual distrust. According to Meister, Tony Blair's ambivalent conduct is partly to blame: "Finding the right balance between protecting the security of the nation and protecting individual freedoms is causing problems in other democratic states based on the rule of law, too. In Great Britain, however, the situation is further complicated by the fact that Britain has an uncodified constitution and therefore the judicial system plays a more important role. A single ruling, for example that holding suspected terrorists in custody is illegal, can thwart a law. However, Tony Blair's criticism of the judges is inconsistent because he himself doesn't make full use of his political powers to integrate the Muslim population, or at least the signals he gives are often contradictory. Take, for example, government support for the founding of new religious schools." (07/07/2006)

» full article (external link, German)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Integration, » Weltanschauung, » United Kingdom
All available articles from » Ulrich Meister

La Vanguardia - Spain

"Nothing has been quite the same in London since July 7, 2005, the day when Great Britain awoke to a new reality - that of a homegrown Islamic terrorism presence," the daily notes in its editorial. Most Britons believe a terror attack could occur at any moment. Despite this, British society, accustomed to overcoming difficult episodes throughout its history, has not succombed to a mood of panic. Unlike the United States, which asserts it is still at war five years after September 11, Britons are asking themselves how they might improve their social model and their fundamental values as an antidote to terrorism. This, even as they question the effectiveness of the police and secret services in fighting new threats in light of findings that indicate July 7 could have been prevented." (07/07/2006)

» to the homepage (external link, La Vanguardia)
More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » United Kingdom

Postimees - Estonia

Arko Olesk brings the London attacks, the riots in French suburbs and the demonstrations of young Russians in front of a Soviet monument in Tallinn down to a common denominator, pointing out that second-generation immigrants played a key role in all three incidents. "The question of what induces the children of immigrants to fight battles that are not really their own is highly complicated, but at the same time it is key. The London attacks exactly a year ago were the sad consequence of alienation and radicalisation, and we must look for their cause both within and without society – for example the lack of domestic policies to combat radical ideas or the war in Iraq. But despite all the commissions set up to deal with this question, a year later Great Britain still has no answers – and the number of radicalised youths is growing." (07/07/2006)

» full article (external link, Estonian)
More from the press review on the subject » Integration, » France, » United Kingdom
All available articles from » Arko Olesk

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

" Myth may distort what has happened, but it affects what happens," writes British political scientist Rowland Manthorpe in an essay which won the Fabian Society's award for political writing and was originally published in The Guardian. According to Manthorpe, in the aftermath of the London attacks the memory of the London Blitz and the re-enactment of the spirit of the Blitz helped the British keep their calm. "Muslim communities were exposed to greater hostility after the bombings. The Metropolitan Police reported a sharp rise in faith-related attacks in London in July 2005 compared with the same period in the previous year… Fortunately, the initial spike in faith-related crime soon dissipated. After the rise covering the period between July 7 to the beginning of August, hate crime incidents returned to 2004 levels… The myth of the Blitz was a home-grown remedy to the divisive disease." (07/07/2006)

» to the homepage (external link, Süddeutsche Zeitung)
More from the press review on the subject » Religion, » Weltanschauung, » United Kingdom
All available articles from » Rowland Manthorpe

» To the complete press review of Friday, July 7, 2006