For what it's worth, the BBC bombing by one of the IRA splinter groups shook my then-house's windows, and I've been evacuated before that for IRA bomb warnings.

For what it's worth, the BBC bombing by one of the IRA splinter groups shook my then-house's windows, and I've been evacuated before that for IRA bomb warnings. Maybe that's shaping my views when I think that the number of deaths isn't the only goal of terrorism. Rather, it's to scare and inconvenience people and the authorities. Let's say "only" 20 people died. I think that would result in yet more security checks. I'd love to be wrong on this, and maybe that's why an attack like this hasn't happened to date - to paraphrase you, it'd be pointless. I guess looking at it coldly, we should just be thankful that the on-the-ground expertise dies in every attack.