Only hours after the party started, the London Olympic bid team has suspended its celebrations following this morning's horrific terrorist attacks across the capital.
Talk of getting started on the herculean task of staging the games and transforming London has given way to anxious queries about the number of dead.
The International Olympic Committee has sent a message of support to London, and IOC president Jacques Rogge has personally expressed his sympathy in letters to Tony Blair and Ken Livingstone.
"It is a very sad fact of society today that tragic and shocking attacks of this nature can happen in any city at any time," the statement said. "The IOC's thoughts are with all those who are personally affected."
The London bid team is scheduled to arrive back in Britain early on Friday morning.
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