JUST after lunch London's worst fears were realised. July 7 was not a one-off.

If yesterday's bombs had been detonated properly, dozens more dead would be in the capital's morgues today. This time Londoners were lucky. They will now be wondering: will our luck run out?

The rest of us are also coming to terms with the realisation that the earlier atrocity was the first attack in a campaign of terror, which could come to any town or city.

They want to paralyse us with fear. The only way to respond is to go about business as normal. We should keep our wits about us, and remember that Britain has survived far worse.

Updated: 10:42 Friday, July 22, 2005