7/7 father to speak at terror summit in Paris

AN OLDHAM father who lost his son in the 7/7 bombings in London will speak at a European summit on terrorism.

Graham Foulkes, whose 22-year-old son David was killed in the Edgware Road blast in 2005, has been invited to represent the UK at the meeting in Paris next month.

Sponsored by the European Union, the meeting will draw representatives together from across the continent in the aim of establishing a formal plan to protect countries against terrorism and support the victims of attacks.

Graham (59), from Austerlands, said: “There is still not a formally recognised group who have come together.

“A few of us have made contact with each other informally to discuss the issues that need to be address but there needs to be an EU-wide protocol in place for such things.”

Mr Foulkes will give a formal lecture to delegates from other countries, including families who have also been touched by terrorism.

The current project by the Home Office, named Protect, aims to set objectives to strengthen UK border security and reduce the vulnerability of the transport network.

However Mr Foulkes argues that a more formal, decisive approach needs to be taken.

He added: “The one thing I have learned about working with Government is that it is an arms length organisation. To get anything done we have to keep hammering on their door.What is being done at the moment needs to be far more structured and the EU should have a pattern for countries to follow.”