By Bruno Waterfield and Henrietta Billings - 6th July 2005
The EU has expressed solidarity with the UK after London was hit by multiple bomb blasts on Thursday.
The British capital has been rocked by explosions targeting the city’s transport network during peak travel time.
European Commission President José Manuel Barroso is in Scotland with UK leader Tony Blair at a Gleneagles G8 summit.
He expressed "deepest sympathy, condolences... for this outrageous and unjustifiable attack".
"This is an attack on the people of Britain, it is an attack on democracy, and it is an attack on the fundamental freedoms which go to the heart of the EU."
"The EU will offer every support and assistance available to the British authorities coping with this atrocity."
"We must stand resolutely together against terrorism in all its forms."
Also attending the G8 summit, US President George W Bush urged the world to be "extra vigilant".
"The war on terror goes on. I was most impressed by the resolve of all the leaders in the room. Their resolve is as strong as my resolve," he said.
"We will not yield to these people, will not yield to the terrorists."
French leader Jacques Chirac also expressed solidarity.
"The president told the British prime minister that the tragic events in London fill him with horror, and expressed his grief and condolence," said a spokesman.
"He expressed the total solidarity of France and the French people."
The attacks come just one week into the UK's assumption of the EU's rotating six month presidency.
European Commissioner for justice and security Franco Frattini has called for greater EU coordination against terror.
“We have the tragic confirmation that terrorism has once again hit the heart of Europe and hit a country that holds the presidency of the EU and the G8,” he said.
“What should we do? Activate immediately coordination between intelligence and police forces and offer the United Kingdom all the help it needs.”
NATO secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer expressed “our sympathy for and solidarity with the British people”.
“There can be no justification for such heinous crimes,” he said.
“I condemn in the strongest terms these attacks, which underline the need for the international community and members of the alliance to remain united in the fight against terrorism.”
MEPs have held a minute's silence in the Strasbourg seat of the European Parliament.
European Parliament President Josep Borrell called for solidarity with the people of Britain, and urged Europe to stand firm against terrorism.
“On behalf of the parliament, I would like to express my condolences to all those suffering the consequences of these barbaric acts,” he said.
Borrell – a Spanish MEP – reminded Europeans of 2004 Madrid bomb attacks similar to those occurring in the British capital.
“As parliament president and as a citizen of a country that suffered a similar attack, I send a message of solidarity to the British people,” he told MEPs.
“We all stand with you. We will never let the atrocities of terrorism defeat the balance of peace and democracy.”
Liberal Democrat MEP Sarah Ludford, who represents Londoners, praised the "courage and stoicism" of those caught up in the blasts.
"Londoners will know that they have the solidarity and support of all their fellow Europeans during this terrible experience," she said.
"This devastating attack on the UK capital reinforces the need for full EU cooperation against the terrorist threat, which I raised with the UK Presidency only yesterday in the European Parliament."
European Socialist leader, and former Danish PM, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen condemned “an act of unspeakable barbarity”.
“There should be no hiding place for those responsible for taking lives at random.”
“I am sure European governments will offer any assistance requested by Tony Blair and his government,” he said.
“It is the wishful thinking of madmen that civilised values can be undermined by bombs and terror. The rest of Europe stands firm with Britain, its partner in EU, at this terrible moment.”
Green leaders in the European parliament, Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Monica Frassoni, condemned attacks that may be linked to the UK’s hosting of a G8 summit
“We unreservedly condemn the acts of ruthless terrorism that took place in London today. Whatever the motives of the perpetrators, we must be clear that violence offers no solutions,” said a statement.
“Assuming that these attacks were linked to the G8 meeting in Scotland, the timing is particularly cynical.”
“The leaders of the world's richest countries are finally talking about finding ways to improve the lives of some of the poorest people in the world. To send a message that this is in someway wrong, is shocking and obscene.”
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