UK News 17-09-2001 Blair Declares War On Terrorism As Britain Mourns who: Tony Blair what: Announces `War on terrorism` as British death toll climbs where: Downing Street, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: Tony Blair focused on UK victims of last Tuesday`s horror in the USA this weekend, describing it as "the worst terrorist attack there has been on British citizens since the Second World War." Speaking at Downing Street before Friday`s service at Westminster Cathedral, mr Blair said "Are we at war with the people who have committed this terrible atrocity? Absolutely." Speaking earlier to CNN, the Guardian reports that the Prime Minister put Britain`s full backing behind the USA, saying "whatever the technical or legal issues about a declaration of war, the fact of the matter is that we are at war with terrorism. There has to be a response to bring those terrorists who committed this attack to account, and we will play our full part in that." Meanwhile the first relatives of missing Britons began arriving in New York yesterday to join the search alongside their American counterparts. "Families who are living in the UK are being offered assistance with travel and accommodation in the city", reports Ian Cobain in the Times, adding that travelling relatives are being asked to bring any items which may aid DNA identification of their loved ones such as hair brushes, unwashed clothes "and even cigarette stubs." Sir Christopher Meyer, the British Ambassador to Washington, said that the work of listing the British casualties and comforting their relatives has been heartbreaking for his staff. "We are talking to British families whose loved ones are missing in New York. And we have begun the heartbreaking work of listing so many British people who will now never go home." [... more]

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