Bush, Blair condemn London terror attacks

  • Published
  • By Donna Miles
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  President Bush condemned the July 7 coordinated terrorist attacks in London and instructed U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials to encourage local and state officials to be "extra vigilant" to prevent similar attacks in the United States.

Scotland Yard reported seven explosions at four different sites, timed during London's morning rush hour on the opening day of the G8 summit held by Great Britain in Gleneagles, Scotland.

President Bush, speaking in Gleneagles, said the attacks demonstrate the stark contrast between what terrorists and freedom-loving people offer the world.

At the G8 summit, leaders of the world's industrialized nations were working together to find ways to alleviate poverty in Africa, rid the world of the AIDS pandemic, combat global warming and tackle pollution worldwide, he pointed out.

"And on the other hand, you have people killing innocent people," the president said. "The contrast could not be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty and those who kill."

President Bush said he is impressed by the resolve expressed by Prime Minister Blair's "steadfast determination and strength" and by all the G8 members' refusal to give terrorists the upper hand.

"We will not yield to terrorists," he said. "We will find them, we will bring them to justice, and at the same time, we will spread an ideology of hope and compassion that will overwhelm their ideology of hate."

During a separate news conference, British Prime Minister Tony Blair condemned the attacks as "barbaric," particularly because their timing coincided with the G8 summit.

He praised the G8 leaders' commitment to the same principles.

"Each of the countries around that table have some experience of the effects of terrorism and all the leaders ... share our complete resolution to defeat terrorism," he said.

"It is important ... 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," he said. "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."

British authorities are still piecing together details about the attacks, and the death toll is still uncertain.

"There are obviously casualties, both people who have died and people who are seriously injured, and our thoughts and prayers, of course, are with the victims and their families," the prime minister said. President Bush expressed condolences to the British people for their loss.

The G8 meeting is scheduled to continue in the prime minister’s absence.