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.