No labels for Woolwich

It is ridiculous and even perverse to insist on squeezing this event into already existing categories. This is not in any way to say that Woolwich teaches no wider lessons,because it certainly does. One of these lessons is that such a crime can easily be self-started at home,not plotted by some established network in a bomb-making school in Pakistan. That does not mean such crimes are about to become common. But it does mean that they are relatively easy to plan8230; Second,the Woolwich crime makes a fresh and dangerous new tear in the fabric of community. Most people,Muslim or not,have not the slightest intention of killing random victims of any kind anywhere. But the ease of obtaining a car or a knife,and the ordinariness of the killers appearance,is bound to create some unease8230; That is why the political response was important and,in principle,good. Camerons message of calm,solidarity and inclusiveness was the right one.

From a leader in The Guardian,London