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Australian PM: London blasts death toll is 52
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-07-08 13:49 Australian Prime Minister John Howard said Friday
he had information that the deadly blasts in London had killed 52 people.
"The latest information I have is the death toll currently is 52," Howard
said. He did not say where he got the information.
London authorities say at least 37 killed were killed in almost simultaneous
blasts Thursday in three of the city's passenger trains and a bus.
Howard said the attack but would only strengthen the resolve of nations
involved in the war on terror. Australia, along with Britain, is among the
staunchest supporters of Washington's military action in Afghanistan and Iraq.
In a nationally televised news conference, Howard confirmed seven Australians
were wounded and said one of them was in "very critical" condition.
Some 300,000 Australians live and work in Britain, the vast majority of them
in London.
Howard said his plan to visit Britain later this month, after a trip to
Washington for talks with U.S. President George W. Bush, would not be affected
by the blasts.
"It will not change in any way my plans to be in London in some two weeks
time," he said.
"It is more important than ever that I go there. It was an important time
before the events of the last 24 hours. It is doubly important now," he added.
The bombings, which injured hundreds, would not deter the government from
sending more troops to Afghanistan, Howard said. The government has been
considering bolstering its forces in the country and is expected to make a
decision soon.
"We have not taken a decision, but if anybody imagines that these attacks
will intimidate the Australian government in any way they would be wrong," he
said.
Howard said Australia will send a team of six experts to help British
authorities with their investigation.
Australian police gained valuable experience sifting through the wreckage of
terror bombings for clues when they helped their Indonesian counterparts
investigate the October 2002 Bali bombings which killed 202 including 88
Australians.
Attorney General Philip Ruddock said that Australia would not raise its
terror alert in the aftermath of the London blasts, but state governments across
the country boosted security on public transport.
Meanwhile, Australia's national carrier Qantas Airways Ltd offered refunds to
passengers booked on flights to Britain this month who no longer want to travel.
In an earlier interview with Australian Broadcasting Corp., Howard said the
attacks "will in fact steel the determination of people who recognize the threat
that terrorism poses to democratic societies, to go on with the fight against
terrorism."
The Australian and Aboriginal flags hung at half-staff from Sydney Harbour
Bridge on Friday as a mark of respect for those killed in the
blasts.
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