The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has issued a statement following the terror attacks in London, which have claimed at least 33 lives.
Mr Livingstone said: "This was a cowardly attack, which has resulted in injury and loss of life. Our thoughts are with everyone who has been injured, or lost loved ones. I want to thank the emergency services for the way they have responded."
He went on to describe how London was prepared for just such an attack and that emergency plans had been in place since September 11. He said: "One of the exercises undertaken by the government, my office and the emergency and security services was based on the possibility of multiple explosions on the transport system during the Friday rush hour. The plan that came out of that exercise is being executed today, with remarkable efficiency and courage, and I praise those staff who are involved."
He added: "This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful. It was not aimed at Presidents or Prime Ministers. It was aimed at ordinary, working-class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christian, Hindu and Jew, young and old. It was an indiscriminate attempt to slaughter, irrespective of any considerations for age, for class, for religion, or whatever."
Condemning those who carried out the attack, he said: "This is just an indiscriminate attempt at mass murder and we know what the objective is. Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack. They will stand together in solidarity alongside those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved and that is why I'm proud to be the mayor of that city."
Addressing the attackers directly, he said: "I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others - that is why you are so dangerous. But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free society and I can show you why you will fail.
"In the days that follow you will see that people from around the world will arrive in London to fulfil their dreams and achieve their potential.
"They choose to come to London to live the life they choose. They flee you because you tell them how they should live. Nothing you do, however many of us you kill, will stop that flight to our city where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another. Whatever you do, however many you kill, you will fail."
Anyone concerned about friends or relatives in London can contact the emergency helpline on:
0044 (0) 870 156 6344.
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