Statement by President Barroso on the London attacks

Speaking today in Gleneagles, after terrorist attacks caused multiple explosions in London, the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso said :

"I want to express my deepest sympathy, condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families of the innocent dead 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 European Union.

Citizens across Europe share the grief which is being felt by the people of Britain, and we share the sense of vulnerability about a threat which can strike any of our Member States at any time.

The European Union 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.

At a time when world leaders are uniting to fight poverty, we can not allow the language of violence to prevail. Today’s attacks reinforce the urgency of global solidarity and action.

The European Union will stand together with the British people against terrorism, we will stand together for freedom and democracy.

I want to say, as a matter of duty to the British people, and to the people of Europe, there must be no safe haven for terrorists and terrorism in the European Union."