How London Refuses to Bow to Fear in the Wake of Another Terrorist Attack

Parsons Green was a woodland district of London in 1300. By 1625, there were six people who lived there. The 18th century brought fine houses. Today, it is densely occupied in the Fulham district of South West London.

This morning, the terrorists visited this leafy suburb when an explosive device detonated on a commuter train on the line that links Wimbledon to Central London.

The device, placed and left in a bucket on the train, exploded during the rush hour and was designed to cause maximum damage, akin to previous attacks. Twenty-two people have reported injuries.

U.S. President Donald Trump has tweeted his early response of the “loser terrorist” while the Muslim mayor has followed with equal condemnation. Friday, of course, is the day of Islamic worship attended by the Muslims in London and across the globe.

The Emergency Cabinet meets at 1 p.m. GMT to discuss the situation, and London is again on high alert.

The reality as I write is that along with hundreds of thousands of people, our children and loved ones are in the city on trains and buses traveling to work and social engagements.

Does life stop for the terrorist? No, it doesn’t, and we will neither be threatened or defeated or live in fear that the horrific acts of this nature are designed to bring.

We can’t stop our lives, but we can stop to focus on the fact that in these integrated cities like London when the mix of cultures, creeds and colors co-exist, the leaders must stand to help the authorities flush out “the losers” in our society.

Those in mosques, churches and ashrams know who they are, and they must be vigilant. Terrorists do not always enter the country, but live next door, born and bred in the land. If they are unable to integrate, they must leave and inhabit lands with the like-minded.

London is one of the greatest cities on earth—built by the Romans, occupied by the Norman French, defended against the German Air Forces to house a mix of 300 languages under the British umbrella of freedom, fairness and future. We are built on solid ground; we are strong; and we will never, never close our gates, close our hearts or concede to any enemy.