The Arab News today is filled with stories, commentary, and editorials on the terrorist bombings in London:

Editorial: London Bombings

Londoners Will Stand Defiant

Condemnation Not Enough

A Day of Gloom After Olympic Joy

The Saudi government and its embassies in both London and Washington were quick to condemn the attacks:

Saudi Arabia condemns terrorist bombings in London

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the terrorist attacks which took place in London earlier this morning and expressed its deepest sympathies to the British government and the families of the victims. In a statement issued in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia called on the international community to exert greater efforts to combat the scourge of terrorism which threatens global security.

Statement by Saudi Embassy in London concerning the terrorist attacks

Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Ireland, today issued the following statement:

“On behalf of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I wish to assure the people of the UK that our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of the terrible crimes that took place in London this morning.

“In Saudi Arabia we have suffered at the hands of terrorists and we stand by the UK in every effort to bring the perpetrators of terrorism to justice. Saudi Arabia has always and continues to condemn all terrorism wherever it may be and whatever its cause.”

Saudi Ambassador to the US condemns attack in London

[Washington, DC] – Saudi Ambassador to the United States Prince Bandar bin Sultan expressed his sorrow at the death of civilians in today’s terrorist attacks in London. Prince Bandar condemned the attacks as vicious crimes carried out by cowards, and extended, on behalf of the people of Saudi Arabia, the “deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the attacks.”

“As victims of terrorism, the people of Saudi Arabia express their deepest sympathies to the families of the victims, as well the British people and government, and pray to Almighty God to bring those who carried out this barbaric act to justice.”

Prince Bandar further added that the criminal attacks in London are a sad reminder that no nation is immune from terrorism and encouraged the international community to continue to work together and remain vigilant in combating terrorism.

The reporting is mostly straight-up stories from the wire services and TV. The commentaries are unanimous in condemning this cowardly act and noting that if there is any group not about to be intimidated by these bombings, it is the British.

All of the articles are worth reading, from the unsigned editorial to a piece by Arab News Editor Khaled Al-Maeena to the last press item, by Iman Kurdi, a Saudi woman living in London. Even when individual writers might not agree with British policies in Iraq or Afghanistan, they are unanimous in their repudiation of terror as a tactic.

As a result of a four-year assignment to the US Embassy in London a few years ago, I know all of the places where bombs went off. I was often in them, particularly around the Edgeware Rd. Underground station–that part of Edgeware Rd. is a sort of center for Gulf Arabs, and it’s just a few block from the Embassy.

Having had those places part of my ordinary life causes me to realize, yet again, that terrorism does not seek a particular target; it seeks terror for its own sake. Anyone could have been at the wrong place at the wrong time. My 20-year-old son is currently in London for a summer academic program. While his mother and I felt it very unlikely that he had gotten caught up in these events, it wasn’t impossible. Direct contact with him, as well as very timely notice from his university, put us at ease. But there are thousands of people not at ease tonight in London. Families of the scores of dead, direct and indirect victims of the attacks: all now know they live in a vulnerable world where there are people who will kill you not for what you do, not for what you believe, but simply because of who you are.