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London to pay out bomb victims
27/09/2005 11:12 - (SA)
London - Victims injured in London's deadly bomb attacks on July 7 and the families of the dead will start to receive compensation within the next 10 days, an official compensation panel said.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board said on Monday it had received 180 applications for funds so far.
Police and medical reports were requested as soon as each application arrived to confirm the injuries victims had sustained.
The board received the first set of police reports last Thursday and are now ready to start offering interim payments. A special incident team has been set up to co-ordinate all the applications.
In a statement the board said: "We are working hard to make sure that victims of these terrible bombings receive the compensation they are entitled to as quickly as possible."
Prime Minister Tony Blair on Sunday promised to look into the issue of compensation after families of those killed in the bombs expressed concern at not yet receiving any payments.
The attacks took place 11 weeks ago and many victims have said they were facing financial hardship.
Payments of up to £500 000 are available to the injured and families of those killed in the attacks.
Fifty six people were killed, including four apparent suicide bombers, and about 700 wounded in coordinated attacks on three subway trains and a bus.
- AFP
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