We are united in our grief: As the full horror sinks in today of the atrocities inflicted on Spain by terrorist bombers, we are left with feelings of disbelief, grief and outrage.
Memories of September 11 flooded back into our minds yesterday as the death toll rose and images were flashed across the world of wounded innocents standing stunned and bloodied in the smoking debris.
Today is a time of protest for millions in Spain. It's a time of mourning for a world united in sorrow and anger.
Action will be needed, but first we must discover exactly what happened, how and why. A full investigation will take place into this appalling carnage, and as it does so every nation will watch and wait for answers, while looking once again at its own levels of security.
But we must not jump to conclusions or over-react.
If any good can come of such a murderous act it is that all nations have come together to share Spain's sorrow.
We must continue to be vigilant against terrorism and this black day in Madrid is the cruellest of reminders. But for now we can offer only our sorrow and compassion.
Let's back Able: A new chapter has opened in the ghost ships saga with US environmentalists saying it would be better to sail nine more to Able UK on Teesside rather than leave them to rot on their own shores.
There were reservations aired by some.
One was that the Graythorp-based company first needs to convince the US courts that its standards of work in breaking-up ships is safe and sound.
We say that i If Able UK gets full approval to go ahead with work on the four ships already here, if they go through the right procedures, getting the right documentation and can then carry out the dismantling work in a reasonable, safe way, we should support them. Once again we say: let the boats come in.
