Londoners 'showed backbone'

2005-07-07 21:25

Jill Lawless

London - The priority in the morning was getting in touch with loved ones - it seemed everyone had a cellphone in their hand.

By evening, maps replaced the phones as thousands of Londoners tried to navigate routes home made unfamiliar by police roadblocks and shuttered subway stations.

Amid the twisted metal and mangled bodies left by Thursday's devastating bomb attacks, Londoners took pride in their tradition of fortitude and quiet defiance.

"People are getting on with it," said taxi driver Steve Green. "It's marvelous that they're showing their backbone."

The worst attack on London since World War II brought out a stoicism and esprit de corps that recalled Britain under the blitz of German bombers.

As Wednesday's jubilation at winning the 2012 Olympics gave way to the terrible shock of Thursday's attacks, Prime Minister Tony Blair made a televised appeal for unity and praised the "stoicism and resolve of the British people."

Both were in evidence across the city, as volunteers helped the walking wounded from blast sites, commuters loaned their phones so strangers could call home, and thousands faced long queues for homeward-bound buses or even longer walks without complaint.

'Great' Britain

"As Brits, we'll carry on - it doesn't scare us at all" said tour guide Michael Cahill, 37.

"Look, loads of people are walking down the streets.

"It's Great Britain - not called 'Great' for nothing."

Co-ordinated blasts ripped through three subway trains and a bus during the morning rush hour, killing at least 37 people and injuring about 700. Blair said the blasts were almost certainly timed to coincide with the G-8 summit of world leaders under way in Gleneagles, Scotland.

Some Muslim Londoners expressed fear they would be targeted in revenge attacks.

"Everyone is subdued and people are wondering what has happened," said restaurant manager Karim Mohammed.

"People are asking how will it affect us, are we going to be treated in a nice way after this?"

Computer technician Matt Carter, 25, said he was struck by how the attacks had driven Londoners together.

"It's amazing how people have stuck together. I've seen total strangers hugging each other and people coming out into the street with free cups of tea," he said.

"We can't let the terrorists defeat us, we've got to show them they will never win."

- AP