A week to live long in the memory

Quite a week for the capital.

Saturday: Hyde Park hosts the biggest of the Live8 concerts, watched by millions around the globe.

Wednesday: It's announced in Singapore that London's bid to host the Olympics in 2012 has been successful.

Thursday: Euphoria turns to horror as co-ordinated terrorist attacks hit the city's transport network. Around 50 people lose their lives, and hundreds are injured.

An awful lot to take in, and I'm not even a Londoner. I've got very little to add to it all, except to echo the condemnation of the perpetrators that's been coming from all quarters, and the praise for the emergency services. Watching TV in horror as it all unfolded, it was clear that even in such difficult and traumatic circumstances plans were in place and a great many people were sufficiently clear-headed to gain control of the situation. Their efforts were as remarkable and admirable as the resilience and resolution of ordinary Londoners.

Condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost loved ones in the attacks.

My only hope now is that the incidents don't distract Blair from the business in hand at the G8 summit. After all the pressure that's built up over the past few weeks with the Make Poverty History campaign and the Live8 gigs, it would be terrible if a calculating act of callousness disrupted discussions about the future of the whole planet.

Links (aka far more eloquent / significant responses than mine):

An eyewitness account from the Edgware Road blast (thanks to Mike for the link);

Mish recounts an horrific day;

Londoners' reactions: Excuse Me For Laughing, Casino Avenue, Smacked Face, Diamond Geezer;

Robin imagines the conversation between the triumphant terrorists and a bemused God.