After London attacks, who’s next? press asks

LONDON – The world’s press splashed condemnation across front pages on Friday of bomb attacks in London that killed more than 50 people, while some pointed to the Iraq war and asked: Who’s next? Newspaper headlines and commentaries across the continents hollered outrage at the attack on London’s transport system, while paying tribute to the resilience of Londoners and the quiet way they dealt with a capital in turmoil.

“History shows that Great Britain is not easily intimidated,” wrote Geneva’s daily Le Temps. “The country has reacted to terror with astonishing calm and by doing so sent the most important message to the perpetrators: We will not be intimidated!” wrote German left-liberal daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.’London Terror’, ‘Carnage in London’, ‘War on the West’ were some of the headlines around the world.Many newspapers, particularly in countries which have sent troops to join the US-led war on Iraq, asked whether, after the attacks on trains in Madrid last year which killed 191 people and now London, their turn was next.”Next time it will be our turn – this is the first thing we think of when we are confronted with these pictures of mutilated bodies,” Turin-based La Stampa said in a commentary.In Poland, top-selling Fakt asked on its front page: “Now will they hit Poland?” Danish daily Jyllands-Posten said: “It is horrifying when the monstrous face of terror shows itself – in Denmark especially, which together with Italy, has been warned.”A previously unknown group calling itself the ‘Secret Group of al Qaeda’s Jihad in Europe’ claimed responsibility for the coordinated blasts in London and went on to warn Italy and Denmark to pull their troops out of Iraq.Amid the sympathy and solidarity expressed in the world’s press lay barbs of criticism.South Africa’s main business daily Business Day said the attacks were “an odious reminder” terrorism had not been defeated, but British Prime Minister Tony Blair was partly to blame for his policies in the Middle East.”Britain yesterday appears to have paid the price for its role in Iraq, just as Spain did in March last year,” it said.In similar vein, the Cyprus Mail said in an editorial the extremism being witnessed now was not born on Baghdad streets.”What the West ultimately needs to address is the seething resentment of its meddling in the Middle East and beyond, of its naked greed for oil resources, the extremism born of the grinding poverty of disenfranchised populations,” it said.Other commentaries pulled no punches, accusing Britain of being soft on Islamic extremists.”For years, London has stood as an extreme example of Europe’s problem with fighting Islamic terrorism,” The Wall Street Journal Europe said in a front page article.It said the British capital was home to so many extremist groups and so many bookstores selling violent Islamist tracts that law enforcement officers across the continent referred to it as ‘Londonistan’.The paper also lamented Europe’s approach to fighting terror, saying the European Union had opened its borders but still had a patchwork legal system.”This mix of policies is ideally suited for international terrorists,” the paper said.In Russia, the Moskvsky Komsomolets accused Britain of being soft on “terrorists”, a reference to a leading Chechen separatist given political asylum in the country.Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, writing in the mass-circulation Maariv, compared al Qaeda to Nazi Germany and recalled how Britain stood up to the threat 65 years ago.Other papers took a different tack, blaming US President George W Bush.Bush’s war on terror “has led to a vicious cycle of violence”, wrote Greek daily Eleftherotypia.The Irish Times said: “Nor is there any denying that the tunnel vision of President George W Bush, a leader who persists in fighting fire with fire, is proving counter-productive.Like it or not, he is helping to recruit new followers to fanatical causes.”- Nampa-Reuters”The country has reacted to terror with astonishing calm and by doing so sent the most important message to the perpetrators: We will not be intimidated!” wrote German left-liberal daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung.’London Terror’, ‘Carnage in London’, ‘War on the West’ were some of the headlines around the world.Many newspapers, particularly in countries which have sent troops to join the US-led war on Iraq, asked whether, after the attacks on trains in Madrid last year which killed 191 people and now London, their turn was next.”Next time it will be our turn – this is the first thing we think of when we are confronted with these pictures of mutilated bodies,” Turin-based La Stampa said in a commentary.In Poland, top-selling Fakt asked on its front page: “Now will they hit Poland?” Danish daily Jyllands-Posten said: “It is horrifying when the monstrous face of terror shows itself – in Denmark especially, which together with Italy, has been warned.”A previously unknown group calling itself the ‘Secret Group of al Qaeda’s Jihad in Europe’ claimed responsibility for the coordinated blasts in London and went on to warn Italy and Denmark to pull their troops out of Iraq.Amid the sympathy and solidarity expressed in the world’s press lay barbs of criticism.South Africa’s main business daily Business Day said the attacks were “an odious reminder” terrorism had not been defeated, but British Prime Minister Tony Blair was partly to blame for his policies in the Middle East.”Britain yesterday appears to have paid the price for its role in Iraq, just as Spain did in March last year,” it said.In similar vein, the Cyprus Mail said in an editorial the extremism being witnessed now was not born on Baghdad streets.”What the West ultimately needs to address is the seething resentment of its meddling in the Middle East and beyond, of its naked greed for oil resources, the extremism born of the grinding poverty of disenfranchised populations,” it said.Other commentaries pulled no punches, accusing Britain of being soft on Islamic extremists.”For years, London has stood as an extreme example of Europe’s problem with fighting Islamic terrorism,” The Wall Street Journal Europe said in a front page article.It said the British capital was home to so many extremist groups and so many bookstores selling violent Islamist tracts that law enforcement officers across the continent referred to it as ‘Londonistan’.The paper also lamented Europe’s approach to fighting terror, saying the European Union had opened its borders but still had a patchwork legal system.”This mix of policies is ideally suited for international terrorists,” the paper said.In Russia, the Moskvsky Komsomolets accused Britain of being soft on “terrorists”, a reference to a leading Chechen separatist given political asylum in the country.Israeli Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, writing in the mass-circulation Maariv, compared al Qaeda to Nazi Germany and recalled how Britain stood up to the threat 65 years ago.Other papers took a different tack, blaming US President George W Bush.Bush’s war on terror “has led to a vicious cycle of violence”, wrote Greek daily Eleftherotypia.The Irish Times said: “Nor is there any denying that the tunnel vision of President George W Bush, a leader who persists in fighting fire with fire, is proving counter-productive.Like it or not, he is helping to recruit new followers to fanatical causes.”- Nampa-Reuters