Outrage at Istanbul Bombings

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 21st Nov 2003

Baroness Sarah Ludford, Liberal Democrat European justice spokeswoman, has expressed deep sympathy for the victims of all the recent Istanbul bombings and called for full international legal cooperation to track down those guilty of these appalling outrages.

"It is particularly tragic that Istanbul, a beautiful city where religions and cultures peacefully intermingle, should be the target of such horror. If this was done in the name of Islamic jihad, the perpetrators showed their contempt for the true values of Islam by making a synagogue the first target and committing terrible violence during Ramadan."

"All the resources of Interpol and Europol, and the burgeoning European Union experience in law enforcement, must be brought to bear to catch these terrorist murderers."

"Since 9/11, the EU has rightly legislated and invested in its anti-terrorist defences. While respecting civil liberties, it is essential that agencies in all the European countries cooperate among themselves and with EU candidate country turkey, to catch these fanatics."

"Europeans stand together in safeguarding pluralism and diversity through democracy and the rule of law. We are conscious of the need to tackle the roots of terror. But nothing can excuse people using terrorist bombs to vent their hatred."