The Guardian called for realism in the efforts to tackle the menace of extremism. “The assault looks reminiscent of one 12 years ago, shortly after the horribly successful tube bombings of 7/7, when another attempt was made to bomb London using homemade explosives packed into buckets. The detonators went off, but the explosives did not catch. This may be what happened here. If so, it is a tribute to the effectiveness of long, slow and unglamorous efforts to cut off would-be terrorists from the sources of the knowledge and skills they need to make an effective device. The 12 years that have elapsed since the last attack failed in this way are a reminder, though, of the really uncomfortable aspect of today’s: if, as seems likely, one or more of the perpetrators are young, British-born men, they will have grown up through 12 years of argument, pressure and persuasion against terrorism, delivered through mainstream Muslim opinion, all of the mass media, and even the Prevent programme, without this making any impression on their willingness to kill innocent people. We can’t know how effective this pressure has been in turning other young men away from violence, but it is obviously not sufficient in itself. That’s no reason to give up, but it calls for a realism about the outcome of our efforts.”

Calling the attacks predictable, the newspaper highlighted the need for restraint amid provocation by terrorists. “It is a tragedy that these attacks should come to seem predictable and almost routine, but if they must become a regular feature of British life, as they have been for more than a decade, it’s best that we not get too excited. The terrorists want to rouse terror and the kind of anger which quenches reason.”

The Asian age cautioned about the existential threat posed by forces of evil. “The Parsons Green underground train station attack was not seen globally as a major terrorist strike, although from the start the British authorities treated it as an act of terrorism. It appeared the police might have been exercising abundant caution, considering Britain has been targeted five times by terrorists this year. But the investigations so far seem to suggest possible signs of a change in the modus operandi of international Islamist outfits like Daesh, which faces an existential crisis in its home base in Iraq and Syria,” the paper added.

Summing the sentiment felt across the smaller cities in the UK, the Belfast Telegraph appealed for calm and vigil. “The only consolation at present is the fact that no one was killed or injured, compared to the widespread deaths and carnage in other terrorist attacks in London, Manchester, Paris, Spain and elsewhere. The grim reality is that terrorism is not “out there” but in our midst. The utmost vigilance is required from the public, as well as strong support for the police. The price of peace is constant vigilance, from all of us. The world has changed, and nobody is totally safe today. In the face of such threats, we must not lose our nerve, but instead confront evil in all its forms.”

Hailing the British government for striking the right balance between reassurance and vigilance, The Independent called for tolerance. “Government sources often tell us that many terrorist attacks have been prevented by effective intelligence work, and there is no reason to suppose that the numbers and determination of those intent on terror and murder are likely to subside in the near future. The resources have to be found to fight this shifting pattern of terror. For some time to come, the West will have to become accustomed to a continuing level of low- to medium-tech terror. Apart from trying everything to minimise the threat, the most important thing is to stop any spiralling of revenge or retaliation attacks and further division. That, even more than loss of life, is what these terrorists aim to achieve,” the paper editorialised.