This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/5361960.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Terror victims call for more help Bomb victims call for more help
(about 2 hours later)
Families of Britons killed in terrorist attacks abroad have called for greater financial help. Families of Britons killed in bombings abroad have called for greater financial help, as a memorial is held for victims of three attacks.
They say that, while victims of terror attacks in the UK are compensated, those affected by attacks outside of the country are being neglected. Relatives spoke after a London service that remembered 13 Britons killed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Kusadasi and Doha.
The government said a £1m fund for such instances had been set up. They say that while victims of terror attacks in the UK are compensated, those affected by attacks outside the country are being neglected.
The relatives spoke before a service at Southwark Cathedral that remembered 13 Britons killed in bombings in Sharm el-Sheikh, Kusadasi and Doha. The government said a £1m fund for such circumstances had been set up.
Trevor Lakin - who lost his son Jeremy in the Sharm el-Sheikh bombings - was among those who gave a reading at the service, which was attended by dignitaries including Prime Minister Tony Blair, Tory leader David Cameron and Prince Andrew. Prime Minister Tony Blair, his wife Cherie and Prince Andrew joined relatives at the memorial service in Southwark Cathedral.
Speaking before the service, he said the government must set up a "sustainable fund" to help those affected by attacks abroad. Other dignitaries included Tory leader David Cameron, Home Secretary John Reid and Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell, who gave a reading from the Bible.
Whatever he [Mr Blair] does before he leaves office, he must get this sorted and get a sustainable fund set up for those killed overseas Trevor Lakin Those who lived through these terrors will bear the mental and physical scars all their lives The Very Reverend Colin Slee
"Tony Blair's a father - he knows how you love your children. Families chose hymns for the service as well as two poems - one written by Peter Fulham, who lost his son Matthew in the Sharm el-Sheikh bomb attacks.
"I had a short note from him, but I just want to say to him today that, whatever he does before he leaves office, he must get this sorted and get a sustainable fund set up for those killed overseas." "Our heart still aches in sadness," Mr Fulham wrote.
John Corke, whose stepdaughter Annalie Vickers also died in the Sharm el-Sheikh bombings, said not enough help was given to bereaved relatives and survivors of foreign attacks. A relative of each of the victims lit a candle of remembrance on the altar. Those at the altar included two young boys.
"We have no problem with what the victims of the London bombings have received - it is important they are looked after," he said before the memorial service. The names of the 13 victims were also read out.
"But the government hasn't looked after the victims of bombings abroad, and they should be treated the same. Opening the service, the Dean of Southwark, the Very Reverend Colin Slee, said it was being staged to "remember 13 people whose lives ended violently, indiscriminately and suddenly in three attacks", as well as those who were injured.
"These people are seriously affected, they can't work or pay mortgages or bills." "Those who lived through these terrors will bear the mental and physical scars all their lives," he added.
The relatives were due to meet Mr Blair after the service. 'Hearts and minds'
The Bishop of Lincoln, the Right Reverend John Saxbee, told the congregation any war on terror would be won through "a battle for hearts and minds".
"Moral and spiritual strength may matter more than military might when it comes to winning this war and securing long-term peace and stability," he added.
What we do need is for the government to recognise that a British citizen is a British citizen whether they're in the UK in an atrocity or abroad Angela Corke
Speaking after the service, Angela Corke, whose daughter Annalie Vickers - together with boyfriend Jeremy Lakin - died in the Sharm el-Sheikh bombings, said the "lovely service" had "helped a great deal".
But she said not enough help was given to bereaved relatives and survivors of foreign attacks.
"What we do need is for the government to recognise that a British citizen is a British citizen whether they're in the UK in an atrocity or abroad," she told BBC News.
"They're in the front line and they and their families need to be looked after. Australia does it, France does it, the USA and Italy all look after their victims of terrorism abroad and we have to start doing that."
And Mr Lakin's father Trevor, who gave a reading at the service, called for a "sustainable fund" to help those affected by attacks abroad.
The relatives met Mr Blair after the service.
Charitable fundCharitable fund
Mr Blair's official spokesman said the government recognised the relatives felt "aggrieved".Mr Blair's official spokesman said the government recognised the relatives felt "aggrieved".
"Our [Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority] scheme compensates those who become victims in this country, no matter where they are from and many countries have reciprocal agreements," he added."Our [Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority] scheme compensates those who become victims in this country, no matter where they are from and many countries have reciprocal agreements," he added.
"The problem arises where those don't exist."The problem arises where those don't exist.
"We are looking at the options for bridging that gap but that may take some time.""We are looking at the options for bridging that gap but that may take some time."
The £1m charitable fund had been introduced "in the meantime", he added.The £1m charitable fund had been introduced "in the meantime", he added.
At the service, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell also gave a reading, together with Monsignor Richard Moth, Vicar General of the Southwark diocese. Britons killed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, 23 July 2005
  • Leslie Ayers
  • Alan Bentley
  • Noleen Bentley
  • Valerie Bracci
  • Keri Davies
  • Matthew Fulham
  • Charith Jayawardena
  • Jeremy Lakin
  • Annalie Vickers
  • Hannah Lloyd
  • David Sayer
    • A relative of each of the victims lit a candle of remembrance on the altar. Briton killed in Kusadasi, Turkey, 16 July 2005
  • Helyn Louise Bennett
    • Families chose hymns for the service as well as two poems - one written by a relative of a victim. Briton killed in Doha, Qatar, 19 March 2005
  • Jonathan Adams
    • The following 2005 attacks were marked at the service:
    • A car bomb was set off by an Egyptian suicide bomber outside a theatre in Doha, Qatar, on 19 March, killing one Briton and injuring 12 other people
    • A bomb, thought to have been planted by Kurdish separatists, exploded on a tourist bus in Kusadasi, Turkey, on 16 July, killing one Briton
    • Three bombs went off in the early hours of 23 July in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, killing 11 Britons. Approximately 200 Britons survived the bombings; 88 people were killed in total.