‘ Lone wolf’ terrorists are far from alone

Los Angeles Daily News, editorial: “On Wednesday, a vehicle ran down pedestrians on the London Westminster Bridge before crashing into a railing outside Parliament. The attacker then attempted to make his way ( inside), stabbing a British police officer along the way, before being shot by other officers. The officer died, along with the attacker and ( several) pedestrians on the bridge. At least 40 were injured. ... These ‘ lone wolf’ terrorist incidents are increasing in frequency. But these attackers are hardly alone. Regardless of the attacker’s religion, or whether affiliated with an official terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria continues to leave its mark. ... While world leaders consider the next steps, it remains imperative to take the fight to groups like ISIS that inspire hate and violence — but we also must commit ourselves to not allow our way of life to be ruled by fear.”

Nesrine Malik,

The Guardian, London: “When the first news of the attack in Westminster began filtering through ... Twitter abuse flooded towards Sadiq Khan, unleashed by Donald Trump Jr., who criticized London’s mayor hours after the attack for a perfectly reasonable and responsible claim Khan made six months ago that terrorist incidents were now part of the experience of living in a large city. We can only assume Trump singled out Khan because he was Muslim. All this happened in less than 24 hours after the attack. ... The right wing was waiting in the wings, almost grateful that the imaginary fears it had been trying to provoke had become real ones. There was no respect for the dead, dying and grieving, there was just an opportunity.”

Boston Herald,

editorial: “The attack came one year to the day since a string of bomb attacks in Brussels, including one at the airport and a subway station, left 32 people dead and more than 100 wounded. ... The attack also came just a day after a U. S. announcement of a new ban on larger electronic devices in carryon luggage for U. S.- bound flights on nine foreign airlines originating at 10 cities in the Middle East and Africa. That policy was linked to some recently gathered intelligence. Yes, we live in a scary world. We know that. All the more reason that it is more critical now than ever that we be able to trust our institutions — including the president himself — to be straight with us. That means not embellishing, not tweeting about facts not in evidence. And not berating from on high the intelligence community on which we depend to help keep us safe.”

Helen Warrell,

Financial Times, London: “Police and security services have named the Westminster attacker as Khalid Masood, a 52- year- old who was born in Kent. The fact that he was raised in Britain and already known to MI5 indicates important similarities with previous attacks on United Kingdom soil. ... Nevertheless, in the coming weeks and months concerns will inevitably be aired about whether police and secret services should have kept Masood under closer surveillance, and whether Parliament’s buildings need better protection.”