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Bomb survivor's meeting with PM 'very positive'

Beverli Rhodes
Beverli Rhodes

A group of survivors of different terror attacks, including a woman from Ashford injured in the London bombings on July 7, 2005, has met the Prime Minister in a quest for compensation.

At the lunchtime meeting, Gordon Brown promised to help them.

Beverli Rhodes, who now lives in Kennington, Ashford, and who was injured when a bomb exploded in a train under Russell Square on “Seven Seven”, said: “The meeting was extremely positive.”

She is hopeful of action from the Prime Minister.


~Listen: Beverli Rhodes speaks after the "extremely positive" meeting with Gordon Brown>>>


Ms Rhodes said: “If there is a way he can find to negotiate then he will. It’s wonderful. He’s on board and 100 per cent supportive.”

The survivors of different terror campaigns recently united forming the Survivors Coalition Foundation.

Ms Rhodes said: “We have joined together as one strong survivor group, which is the first time ever.”

The coalition is asking for £1.3m for each survivor and £3m for each bereaved family. Initially the claim is for victims of IRA terror attacks but Ms Rhodes hopes this will set a precedent for all survivors and victims.

Next week it will be 20 years since a bomb exploded on a Pan Am jumbo jet with 258 passengers on board over the town of Lockerbie, near the Scottish borders.

She said today’s news is timely for those victims.

Ms Rhodes said: “I think it’s the right time to be doing this sort of thing in this particular week when we remember the survivors and the bereaved of Lockerbie.”

And members of the coalition have already had some contact with British survivors of a much more recent terror attack: Mumbai.

Ms Rhodes said: “There is a difficulty with them facing the issue of travel insurance and private medical insurance as many policies do not pay out for acts of terrorism.”

Ms Rhodes and other member of the coalition will now go to Northern Ireland to meet with survivors there.

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