"lies, damned lies, and statistics"

This morning we have another example of exaggerating the (very tiny) threat from bombers. Today's biggest Washington Post headline is Suicide Bombings Rise In Number, Global Span. Sounds big and scary, right? But look at the details:

"[the London bombings] marked the first time that suicide bombers had
successfully mounted an attack in Western Europe."

So the total death toll from suicide bombers, for the whole of western Europe, in all of history, is about 55. This is terrible for the families involved, as is any painful or unexpected death. But it does not figure on the list of "top one hundred unpleasant deaths." Probably not even in the top one thousand. Where are our priorities?