London attacks ‘an assault on all nations’
The terrorist attacks on London this morning were an assault “on all nations and civilized people everywhere,” Tony Blair has said.
Speaking from the G8 summit in Gleneagles, the prime minister said he would not let terrorists change our society or our values, nor would the bombings weaken our principles in any way.
Flanked by US president George Bush and French president Jacques Chirac, he pledged to “continue our deliberations in the interests of a better world”.
“Here at this summit the world’s leaders are striving to combat world poverty and save and improve human life. The perpetrators of today’s attacks are intent on destroying human life,” he said.
Earlier, Mr Blair said it was “reasonably clear” that the series of blasts in the capital were terrorist attacks, timed to coincide with today’s G8 talks.
“It is particularly barbaric that this has happened on a day when people are meeting to try to solve poverty and help the people in Africa,” the prime minister said.
He added: “It is my intention to leave the G8 within the next few hours and get a face-to face report from the police and to return later this evening
“It is the will of all the leaders at the G8 that the meeting should continue in my absence.”
Mr Blair added that his “thoughts and prayers” were with those affected by this morning’s explosions, but emphasised that all the G8 leaders were united in their determination to fight terrorism.
“It is important that those engaged in terrorism realise that our determination to defend our values and our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction on innocent people,” he said.
