GOTHENBURG, Sweden – Shortly after the July 7 London bombings, many world leaders pledged to fight terrorism and protect democracy, while brave Londoners reacted calmly and performed rescue operations efficiently, saving many lives.
Heads of many governments, including U.S. President Bush and Russian President Putin, who were attending the G8 summit in Glenegles, Scotland, interrupted their meeting last Thursday to make a joint statement condemning the London bombings that morning.
“We will not allow violence to change our societies or our values. Nor will we allow it to stop the work of this Summit… The perpetrators of today’s attacks are intent on destroying human life. The terrorists will not succeed.”
British Prime Minister Tony Blair left the G8 meeting Thursday to take command in London, but was back the next day to resume his work at the meeting.
Representing the EU at the G8 Summit, President Jose Manuel Barroso said that European citizens shared the sense of vulnerability about a threat that could strike any of our member states at any time.
He stated further, “There must be no safe haven for terrorists and terrorism in the European Union.”
Leaders of Arab nations and organizations promptly joined the condemnation. Al-Jazeera reported that the London attacks had drawn shock and sympathy from several Arab capitals, some of them all too familiar with carnage on their own streets. Al Jazeera said the Palestinian Islamist resistance group Hamas condemned the attacks.
The Gulf Cooperation Council, consisting of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued a statement for the same purpose.
In Paris, a few hours after the attacks, the French Minister for the Foreign Affairs, Domenica de Villepin raised the nation’s state of emergency to the second highest level. Mr. de Villepin said, “More than ever, our democracies must gather and unite against the terrorist threat.”
The German Federal President Köhler wrote in a telegram to Queen Elizabeth, "We don't know from which inhuman convictions this abominable act was directed, but we will not bow to terrorism, rather we will fight it together and resolutely."
Government and city authorities in all over Europe took security measures to protect cities and sensitive sites.
On July 8, the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone thanked Londoners for their solidarity during the critical situation, and praised them for acting without panic. He congratulated the transport and emergency services for doing a “flawless” rescue operation the day before, which was responsible for saving many lives. He said that there had been many acts of heroism and selfless dedication.
Speaking at the same press conference, Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair confirmed that there were four blasts, three in the underground and one on a bus. There was no evidence of suicide bombing.
Specialist Operations Commissioner Mr. Andy Hayman said that each device in the trains was placed on the floor of a carriage and the device in the bus was placed on the floor or seats, but he could not tell how they were detonated. He described the recovery of bodies as challenging; his men were working under extreme circumstances.
Posters in underground stations and on buses informed passengers to be on the alert and report suspect bags and packages.
Without any warning, during rush hour at 08.51, on 7 July, an explosion occurred in a train about 100 yards into the Liverpool Street-bound station tunnel. At 08.56, another blast took place at King's Cross-Russell Square underground. At 09.17, there was a third explosion on a train coming into Edgware Road underground station approximately 100 yards into the tunnel. This explosion blew through a wall onto another train in an adjoining platform. At 09.47, an explosion blew off the top of a double-decker bus at Upper Woburn Square junction with Tavistock Place.
Metropolitan Police reported Thursday evening more than 50 dead and at least 700 casualties, of which many were seriously injured. Intelligence investigations are still going on. They request information from the public. Epoch Times readers who have information they thought useful are invited to phone The Anti-Terrorism Hotline, 00 44 800 789 321.
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