The government on Thursday said it was shocked at the terrorist
explosions in London and strongly condemned the attacks.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Liu Jianchao said China opposes
terrorism in any form. "Anyone who launches terrorist attacks and
causes civilian casualties should be resolutely condemned,
regardless of his or her purpose."
The tragedy also shows that the global fight against terrorism
"remains an arduous task and the international community still has
a long way to go," said Liu.
"China will continue to enhance cooperation with the
international community in this field," he added.
A wave of explosions rocked three London subway trains and
ripped apart one double-decker bus during the morning rush hour,
leaving at least 33 dead and more than 360 injured, according to
local police today.
Some media reports have put the death toll at 38 and the number
of injured at 700.
London's streets echoed with sirens and the entire transport
network was shut down just a day after an overjoyed city celebrated
its successful bid to hold the 2012 Olympics.
Police said there had been no warning for the attacks.
"It was a massive explosion and there were papers and half a bus
flying through the air," one passenger was quoted by Sky TV news as
saying about the bus blast.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Thursday that the
bombing in central London earlier in the day had "the hallmarks of
an al-Qaeda related attack".
However, the London Metropolitan police said they still need
further evidence to confirm whether the terrorist attacks were
committed by al-Qaeda.
Earlier Thursday, a Muslim website announced to be
responsible for the bombings in London.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair rushed to London from Scotland
where the world eight most developed industrial countries
are gathering to discuss topics of aiding Africa and climate change
to handle the emergency.
He said in a televised address from 10 Downing Street after a
meeting with ministers and officials that "it is through terrorism
that the people that have committed these terrible acts express
their values and it is right at this moment that we demonstrate
ours."
"We know that these people act in the name of Islam but we also
know that the vast and overwhelming majority of Muslims here and
abroad are decent and law abiding people who abhor terrorism every
bit as much as we do."
London's public transit system is heavily used by the city's 8
million residents. Screening every passenger for explosives, even
if it were possible, still wouldn't eliminate the terrorist threat,
experts said Thursday.
(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2005)
