'No nation is immune'

Newspapers around the world praised Londoners for their courage under fire, but lamented that the attacks had disrupted the Group of Eight (G8) summit in Scotland, where leaders were expected to seal a deal on boosting aid to Africa.

Russia's Vremya Novostei newspaper offered a bleak warning: "The terrorists are among us, they participate in summits and the preparation for the Olympic Games, and they remind us constantly that the world is at war."

In an editorial entitled "Murder in London," The Washington Post wrote: "The bombings proved that the threat of large terrorist attacks remains very real in the democracies allied in combating Islamic extremism.

"Terrorism is drawing near and from now on, no one is safe," cautioned Germany's popular Bild daily.

Israel's Maariv tabloid simply asked: "Who's next in line?"

In Hong Kong, the Chinese-language Apple Daily argued that countries must strengthen their cooperation to root out the "cold-blooded murderers" -- a theme taken up by many newspapers around the globe.

The China Daily called the attacks "barbaric", adding: "If the attacks had been plotted to create a sense of fear, it backfired. It has instead aroused a shared belief in collective defence against acts of terror."

Among the challenges to be faced is "fostering world unity" and "securing the public," said USA Today, warning that the rush to pass tough anti-terrorism laws should not override concerns of abuse.

The Wall Street Journal, in an editorial simply titled "7/7/2005", noted the "impressive sight" of Blair "responding to the London terror attacks flanked in solidarity by all the world's major leaders".

Japan's conservative Yomiuri Shimbun called for "a resolute stance" against terror and said, "We must show there is nothing you gain with terrorism."