The contrast couldn't be greater. After scenes of jubilation yesterday at the success of our Olympic bid, come scenes of destruction.

openDemocracy is flying at half-mast today. Those of us that have made it into the office are struggling through a normal working day. A lot of us walked in today, some through the centre of the city, witnessing all. One of our interns arrived visibly shaken up by what she'd seen. Family members and former colleagues are keeping the phone lines busy.

I'm trying to leave unanalysed the morbid fascination which is making me refresh this thread over at metafilter every five minutes.

Isabel's just written this first reaction to the bombings and Tom has the Gleneagles response.