Across Britain, anti-war and left-wings groups were quick to condemn the July 7 bombings in London.
The Stop the War Coalition, which has organised some of the world's biggest anti-war protests in London in recent years, was quick to respond, posting a statement that "unequivocally condemns today's terrorist attacks on the people of London".
Arguing there was "no justification" for such attacks, StWC went on to say, "We urge everyone to resist any attempts which may be made to use these crimes to stir up anti-Muslim hysteria or attack the Muslim population of this country.
"We emphasise the importance of solidarity, peace and justice as our guiding principles in addressing the crisis scarring the world today, of which today's bombings are a dreadful manifestation."
Jointly with the Muslim Association and the campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, the coalition organised a vigil for the victims.
Anti-war MP George Galloway issued a statement on behalf of his party, Respect, that said "no-one can condone acts of violence directed at working people going about their daily lives". It went on to urge an end to the occupation of Iraq.
The Muslim Association was also quick to condemn the acts, expressing its "disgust with the contempt in which the perpetrators appear to hold human life." It went on: "Islam holds the sanctity of human life in the highest possible regard and shedding the blood of an innocent person is seen as a crime most heinous and repulsive."
The Scottish Socialist Party, whose members were involved in organising the huge protests against the G8 the day before the bombings, issued the following statement:
" The SSP condemns outright the bombings which were targeted at working class Londoners going about their daily lives. Many of those dead and injured would have participated in anti-war protests and would have taken part in the Make Poverty History protests over the past week.
"Meanwhile, the men responsible for the war on Iraq and the massacre of 100,000 civilians were safely cocooned behind fortified walls 500 miles away, protected by thousands of police and armed forces.
"Today's horrific events further expose the falsity of the claims by Tony Blair and George Bush that the wars on Afghanistan and Iraq have turned the world into a safer place. Exactly the opposite: the world is now darker and more dangerous than ever before.
"Today's wave of destruction also underlines the futility of trying to defeat terror by ever more repressive legislation. "As the escalating violence in Iraq and Afghanistan illustrates, even the most ferocious repression cannot quell violence and terror.
"The most effective action Tony Blair could now take to make the UK a safer place is to pull all British troops out of Iraq.
"We note that neo-Nazi extremists are already trying to exploit today's tragedy to whip up fear and hatred towards the Muslim population, the vast majority of whom completely reject acts of violence carried out against innocent civilians.
"The SSP pledges to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Muslim community against all forms of racism and Islamophobia.
"Today's horrific events are a further indictment of the world that the G8 leaders have created.
"Until the swamps of poverty, war and injustice are drained, countless thousands more innocent people will die needlessly in the months and years to come."
The Socialist Workers Party cancelled the first day of its annual Marxism conference as a consequence of the attacks, issuing a statement explaining that the attacks were "in no way" an attack on imperialism. The attacks were also condemned by Sinn Fein, and by the chair of the European Left party.
From Green Left Weekly, July 13, 2005.
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