This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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FM sends message of condolence
08/07/2005
First Minister Jack McConnell has sent a message of
sympathy to the people of London following the
fatal terrorist attacks in the centre of the city.
From the G8 Summit at Gleneagles he said:
"I had planned today (Thursday) to have a conversation
with Mayor Ken Livingston to congratulate him on the
success for London yesterday in Singapore in winning the
Olympic Games for 2012.
"Instead I have sent a message of condolence on behalf
of the people of Scotland to the people of London and the
families of those who have been injured or deceased in the
terrorist atrocities that were seen in different locations
in central London today.
"We utterly condemn those atrocities, we condemn those
responsible, we condemn what they stand for and we restate
here in Scotland our commitment to democracy, freedom of
speech, dialogue and the actions that we want to see taken
to create a better world.
"We send our support to the emergency services of London
who face difficult circumstances today but have responded
as professionally, as efficiently and effectively as
services have responded this week here in Scotland, under
different and challenging circumstances."
Emergency Hotline 0870 156 6344
The world leaders at G8, plus the leaders of Brazil,
China, India, Mexico and South Africa, also issued a
four-point statement condemning the 'barbaric attacks' in
London.
- We condemn utterly these barbaric attacks. We send
our profound condolences to the victims and their
families. All of our countries have suffered from the
impact of terrorism. Those responsible have no respect
for human life. We are united in our resolve to
confront and defeat this terrorism that is not an
attack on one nation, but on all nations and on
civilised people everywhere.
- We will not allow violence to change our societies
or our values. Nor will we allow it to stop the work of
this Summit. We will 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.
- The terrorists will not succeed.
- Today's bombings will not weaken in any way our
resolve to uphold the most deeply held principles of
our societies and to defeat those who would impose
their fanaticism and extremism on all of us. We shall
prevail. They shall not.