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London parties, despite threat
30/06/2007 13:06 - (SA)
London - Londoners shrugged off the latest terror threats on Saturday as half a million revellers were to throng the streets for a Gay Pride march while Wimbledon was to serve more championship tennis.
London's clubs, bars and restaurants opened as usual late on Friday, less than 24 hours after experts defused bombs comprising gas canisters and nails in two Mercedes cars found in the heart of London's entertainment district.
"The bombs have not put us off," diner Joanne Moss said around the corner from the Haymarket quarter where the first device was discovered outside the Tiger Tiger nightclub.
Gay Pride march
London Mayor Ken Livingstone insisted he would be attending the Gay Pride march, saying: "I think people are completely safe to walk about the streets of London today and tomorrow.
"I have promised my family all week that we are all going on the Gay Pride march. We will all be there," he told BBC radio. "I suspect virtually everybody who intended to go on that march will be there."
The mayor added that he doubted that people would stay away from a London concert scheduled Sunday in memory of the late Princess Diana. "I doubt anybody is going to cancel their tickets," Livingstone said.
Londoners wishing to carry on as normal can do so safe in the knowledge that security has been stepped up on the capital's streets.
Wimbledon officials have decided to take extra care when checking vehicles entering the event's car parks, while a higher police presence has been deployed around the stands.
It seems only rain will prevent tennis fans from enjoying the Grand Slam championship on Saturday.
'Safest place to be'
Security has been heightened also around Haymarket.
"I think it's the safest place to be," said Adam Scott, enjoying a drink in neighbouring Leicester Square late on Friday. "There are so many police around."
Another drinker, John Langer, said Londoners were living under a constant threat but should carry on as normal.
"I would not stop my life just because of this," he said.
- AFP
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