Death toll of June 2 bombings released

THE GOVERNMENT has released figures for the June 2 atrocities.

According to the figures, a total of 4,573 people were killed as a direct result of the blasts and the buildings brought down by them. A further 312 died as a result of respiratory failure and other complications caused by dust and smoke bringing the death toll to a staggering 4,885.

5,459 people were moderately or severely injured but have since recovered or been pronounced "stable", while 279 are either comatose or still in a critical condition. At least 6,500 people were mildly injured, and 157 people remain unaccounted for.

President Saxon addressed the nation outside her residence in Ferveo City today.

Visibly shaken, the President said, "The sheer scale of this tragedy is horrifying. That any group could murder almost 5,000 people simply beggars belief.

"But these terrorists, the Fervean Values Force, their leaders have been either killed or arrested by the finest soldiers in the region - Fervean, Jageran and Pagemaster. Though the threat is not over, the perpetrators of these monstrous crimes have been or will be brought swiftly and summarily to justice.

"What these people want is instability. In many other nations tragedies of this magnitude have destroyed democracy and brought in fascist régimes. We cannot allow this to happen, not when we have seen first-hand what this ideology can do."

Surveying the crowd, Ms Saxon continued, "I am not going to mince words. These attacks were not only politically motivated, they were also religiously motivated. Specifically, motivated by fundamentalist Christians.

"These people are the remains of a movement which started and ended with the Unseen Master himself. We simply cannot allow them to gain any power, or we risk another Great Holocaust.

"As President it is my duty to keep this nation together at this time. Do not judge me by my age or by my gender; I want the best for this nation, and I will listen - and have listened - to its people. To you.

"We are the future. We must move on from this tragedy and turn our grief into fortitude, a national strength that will not be eroded by clumsy terrorism. We must turn our faces to these monsters and say, 'No! You shall not destroy everything our people fought and died for!

"Peace through politics. Thank you."