Outfoxed

Two weeks ago the top story in the greatest city in the world was one of the highest profile anti-terrorism swoops in British history. Two weeks later the top story seems to be about the menace of the urban fox in Croydon: it either shows just how quickly life returns to normality & banality (and the failure of the terrorist cause) or that we need something to fear and get worked up about.


Since moving to London 7 years ago (is it 7 years?!) the often-spotted urban fox has never caused much alarm... the occasional shock as it scampers across the road or as you get caught in the glare of each other's headlights. This photo was taken just a few days ago: the house is reasonably close to a railway line which seems to act as home, highway and good scavenging ground.

They've never been particularly pestly but I can't exactly see them as being the urban dweller's friend: unbelievable that some comments on the site above actually admit to feeding the blighters. Still, they're probably the ones who make the pilgrimage to Trafalgar Square to feed the ratty, disease-ridden pigeons.

London Bomb Attack Terror Shocker

Heathrow grinds to a halt as a new threat is unveiled and more dawn raids on houses in London, Birmingham and High Wycombe. (Is it just me or does High Wycombe sound like the new Tora Bora?)

The ever-predictable and excitable Evening Standard came up with a typically reassuring and measured front page yesterday. Don't get me wrong: I'm not belittling anything about the operation, the threat or the measures at Heathrow but every single time it's such a fear-ridden, doom-laden, paranoia-spreading media opportunity: an almost American style response.

That said, when I was in New York the other week there wasn't the element of suspicion, of panic, of drama I was dreading. Yes, security was tighter than when I was there 6 years ago but I found New Yorkers, well, fairly relaxed and reflective. I didn't get a chance to check whether this Que Será, Será had extended to the media or to middle America but I have my doubts.

As for the UK watch this space for more attacks on the British public in the skies, on the tube and in the Palace of Westminster. When is the terror holding without trial legislation up for renewal?...

One final, related point: work has been on-the-ball in its internal communications advising of any specific threat to company operations and what the latest travel restrictions are. This morning a communicae said that 'the national security situation remains fluid at the moment'; an unfortunate turn of phrase I thought.