Editorial: We can't go on like this

Hawke's Bay Today news editor James Ford. Photo / File

All eyes were on London as I wrote my editorial for yesterday's paper following another terror attack.

The focus of my editorial was Saturday night's events and other recent attacks in Europe.

But as news broke of shots being fired in Brighton, Melbourne, I had a horrible feeling that some late changes would have to be made.

Unfortunately my suspicions were right.

A shooting and hostage situation occurred in a serviced apartment block in the affluent beachside suburb.
Somali-born Yacqub Khayre shot and killed a reception staff member and then held a prostitute hostage.

In a subsequent shoot-out with police, Khayre was killed and three police officers were wounded.

Khayre, like one of the terrorists, Khuram Butt, who stabbed defenceless men and women in London, was known to police.

He had an extensive criminal history.

Although he was acquitted over his involvement in the Holsworthy terror plot in 2009.
Isis has claimed responsibility for the attack. The militant group said the siege "was carried out by a soldier of the Islamic State".

It was an alarming feeling, that while writing about one act of terror another should happen.

We may never be able to predict the timing of such attacks, but we certainly can predict the response.

Facebook profile pictures will express condolences, posts will go up about our "togetherness" and there'll be reassurances from heavily guarded politicians that we should still venture into city centres with confidence.

But, more accurately, in small pockets of communities riddled with hate, another attack will be plotted.

We can't go on like this.