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Today, Britain remembers the victims of the appalling terrorist attacks of 7/7
Wednesday, Jul 07, 2010 in Office of Tony Blair
The memorial commemorating the victims of the July 7 bombings
Statement from Tony Blair on the fifth anniversary of the July 7 bombings:
"Five years ago today, the people of London were subjected to an appalling terrorist attack. 52 people were killed and many more were injured, physically and mentally, by the outrage.
It was an attack on our capital and on our whole country. It was intended to wound the community cohesion which is central to what it means to live in modern Britain. It was not an expression of proper religious belief but of fundamental hate.
They may have carried out their attack but, in truth, the terrorists failed. Londoners - as in previous attacks, in different times - showed the resilience and unity in the face of terror for which they are rightly renowned around the world.
Britain resolved, even more surely, to defeat the extremism and intolerance which drove the attackers and stand up for the values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law which as a nation we cherish.
On the morning of the attacks the world's leaders were in Britain, at Gleneagles. They showed their solidarity with us as we had shown them at times of similar terrorist attacks around the globe.
As we remember the victims of 7/7 today it is fitting that Her Majesty The Queen was yesterday in New York visiting the site of the Twin Towers, laying a wreath for the British victims of that other outrage.
The attacks London faced five years ago were carried out by citizens of our own country but planned half a world away. As 9/11, Madrid and other terrorist attacks show, this is a worldwide challenge which demands a global response of vigilance, resolve and courage.
Today, Britain remembers the victims of 7/7 and of terrorism around the world. We thank the police, security and emergency services who work so hard to keep our country safe. And we acknowledge the courage and sacrifice of our armed forces called on to defend the values we hold dear against those who seek only to destroy them."