the death penalty should never be looked at as a deterrent, its about justice. people who are crazy enough to commit a capital crime more than likely don't give a shit about the end result anyway. putting aside the cost of keeping people like this locked up (maybe 15 years in the uk if we're lucky), people who commit acts like this have forfeited their own right to live.

as far as the whole "terrorism" thing, lets wait until we get more info, rather than just going on some slogan that was apparently uttered. terrorism has become a favorite buzzword for the media and politicians alike, and has been used for nothing more than the constant erosion of civil liberties as well as justification for foreign intervention. from what it seems so far here, this is not much more than some crazy dopes who have gone mad. makes me sad that citizens in the uk are not allowed the right to defend themselves, and this is yet another example that the government can't protect you..