Soho Bombing: Straw: `We are dealing with warped people'

THE CARNAGE wrought by the Soho bombing prompted widespread condemnation and renewed calls for the Government to bring in emergency curbs on extremist groups.

Jack Straw, the Home Secretary, described the perpetrators of the three attacks as having "no humanity whatever". He said: "We are dealing with people who have warped minds, right-wing extremists who are obviously racist and homophobic.

"I know, too, that the British people will not be intimidated by this outrage, nor will the harmony between different minorities be disturbed by it."

Angela Mason, director of gay pressure group Stonewall, said it was now time for the Government to introduce emergency powers to curb far-right and other extremist groups.

The Conservative Party leader, William Hague, called it an "appalling and barbaric act". He said: "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families and friends, and those involved in attending to them at this time."

The Liberal Democrat leader, Paddy Ashdown, condemned the attack as "an act of mindless brutality" committed by "cowards of the highest order".

The head of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Paul Condon, said: "Nothing can justify the thought of someone clinically and evilly preparing a bomb and being prepared to place it to kill [people] just because they may be black or brown or gay or Jewish or other minority grouping.

"There has been an enormous determination to catch those responsible, and they will be caught."

Cardinal Basil Hume, the Archbishop of Westminster and leader of Roman Catholics in England and Wales, said: "I deplore this evil attack and the earlier attacks in Brick Lane and Brixton. It is deeply shocking that minority groups should apparently be targeted in this way.

"These outrageous acts must be condemned. My thoughts and prayers tonight are with the families and friends of the dead and injured."

Nick Lowles, co-editor of the anti-fascist magazine Searchlight, said: "There have been incidents of extreme violence, arson and even letter bombs [from neo-Nazis] in the past 20 years, but this is a new development because of the indiscriminate nature of the attacks. It shows that the target can be varied and everyone, not just the black and Asian communities, has to be on their guard. We have to band together."

Peter Tatchell, spokesman for gay rights group OutRage!, said: "A lot of gay people saw the Old Compton Street area as being a safe haven. They felt able to relax and hold hands without fear. This outrage has destroyed that cosy assumption.

"The police decision to focus solely on a racist motive for the earlier attacks was a big mistake. It lulled many gay people into a false sense of security," Mr Tatchell said.