Victims 'not given enough support' in aftermath of July 7 attacks

An official report into the July 7 London bombings published yesterday has criticised the emergency response to the attacks.

The report, entitled Lessons Learned, was produced by the Home Office and highlighted flaws in information-sharing, communications, the compensation process and the systems for caring for survivors of the blast. Not enough was done to support the people caught in the aftermath of the explosions on London's Underground the report said.

"This report concludes that the response to the bombings was fast, professional and effective," the Home Secretary, John Reid, said. "However, where shortcomings have been identified, we have set out the work in hand to address them. In times of crisis, information and support must be readily available and easy to access for those who need it. Getting the right help in place is of critical importance and we are working hard to strengthen our emergency response."

The report revealed that survivors from the blasts found the process of applying for compensation "bureaucratic, slow and distressing".

In May, the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) disclosed that at least two of the bombers had come to the attention of the security services before the attacks. Its report concluded that extra resources could have prevented the bombings and that there were a number of "lessons to be learnt".

In June, a damning report by the London Assembly, based on interviews with friends and families, exposed a catalogue of failings in the chaotic aftermath of the attacks. Massive communication problems, a lack of basic medical supplies and a "completely unacceptable" failure to care properly for thousands of survivors were just some of the serious deficiencies it identified.Survivors from outside London felt excluded, the report added, and it was difficult to access specialist psychological help.