Germany condemns terrorist blasts in London
8/7/2005 9:39
The German government condemned on Thursday the terrorist blasts in central
London that reportedly cost dozens of innocent lives and beefed up security
measures at home. Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder condemned the blasts in a
written statement released by his office in Berlin. "My deepest sympathies go
to the people hit by these blasts, their families, Prime Minister Tony Blair and
the whole British people," Schroeder said. Schroeder said the terrorist
attacks aimed to undermine the G8 meeting at Gleneagles in Scotland. He welcomed
British Prime Minister Blair's resolve to continue the summit meeting which is
to address issues such as aid to Africa and global climate change. Poverty
and climate change are "the central global task of our time," Schroeder said,
adding that "We are determined to face the challenges and by no means let
cowardly terrorist attacks prevent us to do so." German Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer also condemned Thursday 's terrorist attacks. The terrorist
attacks on the public local passenger system in London "fill us with disgust and
revulsion", Fischer said. Germany's national railway operator Deutsche Bahn
raised the alert level from "green" to "yellow", the mid-level rating, on
Thursday, local media reported. The Berlin transport authority said it has
put security personnel on duty in the city's underground system and train
stations. In the most populous state North Rhine-Westphalia, Police boosted
security at British and US installations, including two British military
bases. Berlin police has strengthened security measures at British embassy
compound. The German Foreign Ministry issued a warning on its website,
advising German nationals in London to keep off the public transportation and
public gatherings there.
Xinhua news
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