British Prime Minister Tony Blair speaks about London bombings

Thursday, July 7, 2005

Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a short statement at midday BST from Gleneagles, Scotland, said that it was his intention to travel to London within a few hours to get a clearer picture of the events, before returning to the G8 summit this evening. Looking visibly shocked, he said that he believed it was "reasonably clear" that it was an act of terror, and that he hoped that the people of Britain could demonstrate that their will to overcome the events is greater than the terrorists' wish to cause destruction. He also said that his determination to "defend" the British way of life outweighed "extremist determination" to destroy it.

He also made it clear that all members of the G8 council wish to continue talks in his absence, he is currently on his way back to London to talk directly to police chiefs and ministers.

Text of the statement

It's reasonably clear that there have been a series of terrorist attacks in London. There are obviously casualties, both people that have died and people seriously injured. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.

It's my intention to leave the G8 within the next couple hours and go down to London and get a report face to face with the police and the emergency services from those who have been dealing with this.

Each of the countries around that table have some experience of the effects of terrorism and share our complete resolution to defeat this terrorism. It's particularly barbaric that this has happened on the day when people are meeting to try to help the problems of poverty in Africa and the long-term problems of climate changes in the environment.

It's reasonably clear that it is designed and aimed to coincide with the opening of the G8. There will be time to talk later about this. It's important, however, that those engaged in terrorism realize that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in a desire to impose extremism on the world. Whatever they do, it is our determination that they will never succeed in destroying what we hold dear in this country and in other civilized nations throughout the world. Thank you.

Statement from the G8

At the G8 conference in Edinburgh, Scotland, Scotland, Prime Minister Blair made a statement at a press conference accompanied by other leading politicians from the G8 countries, including Presidents Bush, Putin and Chirac.

We condemn utterly these barbaric attacks. Those responsible have no respect for human life. We are united in our front to defeat terrorism which is not an attack on one nation but on all nations and on civilization as we know it. We will not allow this to stop the work of this summit. We will continue our deliberations in search of a better world. The perpetrators of this attack are intent on destroying human life. The terrorists will not succeed. Today's bombings will not weaken in any way our resolve to defeat those who would impose their fanaticism and extremism on all of us. We shall prevail and they shall not. Tony Blair says " I will send my people to hunt those down who plan suicide bombings"

Sources

Live transcription of statements from CNN news
Tony Blair MP. "PM's statement on London explosions" — 10 Downing Street, July 7, 2005

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