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Maybe 'dry run' was a bad phrase to use. I'm not suggesting it was all planned, but that the authorities could have used it as an excuse to stretch their legs. It also sends out a message of vigilance for the upcoming games.

Hi Sam,

I realised that you weren't suggesting that it was all planned.

I think it could have been used as a dry run in terms of dealing with a real life, unplanned situation. Or alternatively it could have been a police response to Theresa May's front line services cost-cutting which alas, for the police, went a bit pear-shaped.

I think what really happened is that the authorities found out the coach was full of lazy, benefit-claiming under-25s who'd had their homes taken away.

I mean, if you're going to live on the streets you may as well get as far south as possible for the warmer weather.

Really? I thought it was a bunch of Lancashire kebab shop owners who were fleeing south from Preston before Cameron and his non-pc police caught up with them. They'd realised that the pc good times under New Labour were completely over.

New Labour bastards!

I think its all for show and to play on our insecurities that terrorism is a high priority as a psychological tactic to put off anyone thinking about terrorism.

Today was an inconvenience at best but necessary.

I could be wrong but if they were that good how was 7/7 allowed to happen?

The truth is, terrorists trained in ding this stuff are seldom caught before the act is done.

The more we hear about it in the next few days is all part of the deterrent and to make us aware.

Be afraid people. Be very afraid! Before it was the IRA now it is the radical muslims. Perfect!!!

Trouble is that when anything like this happens, the police / security services get pilloried either way.

If they do nothing or react too slowly, they're slagged off for being negligent or useless.

But if they go in mob-handed waving shooters and it turns out to be just a bloke with some pot noodles, people start banging on about over-reaction, excessive force etc.

I'm sure that the government does at times exaggerate the "terrorist threat" for its own political purposes. But nevertheless the fact remains that there ARE nutters out there who would do us all harm given the chance, and it must be very difficult to strike the right balance in terms of how to react to an incident like this.

I know one thing - it's not a job or a responsibility I'd want. Although for a Bob Diamond-sized salary & bonus package, I'd be willing to take a stab at it. !bobby!

- Eric

Too true, Eric.

Still, it's not the over-reaction and amount of firepower that amazes me. It's the 4 hour siege to realise it was just a fake cigarette that does it.

Never seem to get this sort of over-reaction when you ring to report a burglary. I'm reminded of the farmer who rang the police to say there was a robbery going on at his farm. He was told they couldn't spare the manpower and they'd be there quite a while later. Farmer rang them again a few minutes later to say 'No hurry, I've shot them'. Armed response team and helicopter were there in minutes. 'I thought you said you'd shot them', says senior copper. 'I thought you said you didn't have the manpower', says the farmer.

I notice the "authorities" are ramping up the terror nicely so those peace luvvin Yankees can have a go at Iran....

Belive me when I say they did the right thing - this nutter was acting supiscious then was seen doing some thing before 'smoke' was seen. Ifid been onthe bus id have prob decked the guy.

Turns out to be a guy using e cigs could have been so different