Brussels, 10/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 11 March, the seventh European Day For the Victims of Terrorism event will take place. This event was set up following the terrorist attacks in Madrid on 11 March 2004, which left 191 people dead and 1,400 injured. The attack was the most murderous ever committed in Europe since the Lockerbie attack in 1988, which killed 270 people. On 7 July 2005, London was also affected by a number of bombs that killed 56 people and injured 700. This “European Day” is aimed at demonstrating the solidarity of the EU institutions with the victims of these attacks.
On Thursday 10 March in Strasbourg, the European Parliament observed a minute's silence, to pay homage to the victims of terrorism - more than 5,000 people - in Europe. “Terrorism can never be justified”, said European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek. It is a “shameful, deceitful and cowardly” act, he stressed. “We Europeans are strong and united. No terrorist or any criminal organisation is able to weaken our faith in the values which built our united Europe”, said the president. (S.P./transl.fl)