Survivors and victims mark the 5th anniversary of the 7/7 bombings

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Survivors and relatives of those killed in the 7/7 London bombings today marked the 5th anniversary of the atrocity.

On 7th July 2005, four Muslim men detonated bombs on three London Underground trains and a double decker bus. 56 people died, including the terrorists, and around 700 injured. Half of the 52 innocent people who were killed were on the King's Cross St Pancras to Russell Square underground train.

Relatives and friends of the victims gathered at the 7/7 memorial in Hyde Park in central London to lay wreaths and flowers.

Wreaths were also laid at the memorial on behalf of Prime Minister David Cameron and London Mayor Boris Johnson. A minute's silence is set to be observed at a meeting at City Hall this evening.

During Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon, Mr Cameron told the Commons: 'Our hearts should go out to the families and friends of those who died. They will never be forgotten

'Our thoughts are also with those who were injured, physically and mentally, by the dreadful events of that day.

'It was a dreadful day but it is also a day that will remain, I believe, a symbol of the enduring bravery of the British people.'

Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman echoed the Prime Minister's sentiments, saying: 'Today we remember those who were killed and injured and their families and friends.

'We pay tribute to the emergency services who responded with such care and courage and we stand with the Government in our determination to defeat those who would bring terror to our streets.'

London's Tory mayor Boris Johnson told the Greater London Authority: 'We will all be thinking today about the terrible events in London five years ago to the day.'

Ken Livingstone, who was London's Labour mayor at the time, said: 'July 7, 2005 was a day we will never forget.

'It was a day in which many people were caught up in an act of horrific criminal violence and a day when Londoners also demonstrated why this city is the greatest in the world.

'Londoners from all communities united against the appalling acts of terror and chose hope and humanity over division.'

Also mourning, in a Leeds cemetery, is Mahmood Hussain, the father of 18-year-old Hasib Hussain, who was responisble for the attack on the bus.

At 8:50 am on 7th July 2005, just the day after London was awarded the 2012 Olympics, three bombs exploded within 50 seconds of each other on the London Underground.

The first bomb exploded on an eastbound Circle Line train, number 204, travelling between Liverpool Street and Aldgate. The second bomb exploded on the second carriage of a westbound Circle Line train, number 216. The train had just left platform 4 at Edgware Road and was heading for Paddington. The third bomb exploded on a southbound Piccadilly line train, number 311, travelling between King's Cross St. Pancras and Russell Square.

Almost an hour later, a bomb exploded on the Number 30 bus on Tavistock Square.

26 people were killed on the King's Cross St Pancras-Russell Square train; 7 were killed on the Liverpool Street-Aldgate train; 6 people were killed on the Edgware Road train; and 13 people were killed on the Number 30 bus.

The 7/7 bombings were the biggest attack on London since a German V2 rocket killed 131 people in Stepney on 27 March 1945.

Tears for a suicide bomber: Father of 7/7 terrorist visits his unmarked grave as survivors and victims gather on fifth anniversary

By Mail Online Reporter
7th July 2010
Daily Mail

Five years to the day after four suicide bombers brought terror to London, victims' relatives and survivors gathered in the capital to mark the solemn occasion.

But in the quiet corner of a Leeds cemetery a solitary figure mourned the death of one of the Islamic extremists who killed 52 innocent people on July 7, 2005.

The 18-year-old he is mourning is Hasib Hussain, the teenager who took 13 lives as well as his own when he detonated his bomb on the number 30 bus in Tavistock Square.


Grief-stricken: Mahmood Hussain mourns his son Hasib, the 18-year-old Tavistock Square bus bomber who killed 13 people on 7/7, at his unmarked grave in Leeds

While Mahmood Hussain grieved the death of his youngest son, 200 miles to the south Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London, paid tribute to those who died.

In a personal message to staff at the Greater London Authority, Mr Johnson said he was grateful to those who helped keep the capital moving that day.

'We will all be thinking today about the terrible events in London five years ago to the day,' the Mayor's personal message to GLA workers said.


13 people were killed on the Number 30 bus at Tavistock Square during the biggest attack on London since March 1945

'Some of you will have suffered personal pain. Many of you were involved in the emergency response to and in the aftermath of the bombings.

'I know that this organisation rose to the challenge on that day and worked hard to keep the capital moving and its communities united in grief, not in mutual hatred or suspicion.

'I am grateful to all who were involved. We will never forget what happened or those who suffered.'


Sombre: Relatives and friends of those who were killed on July 7, 2005 gather at their Hyde Park memorial

A minute's silence is set to be observed at a meeting at City Hall this evening.

No official events are planned to commemorate the anniversary, although wreaths have been laid on behalf of Prime Minister David Cameron and Mr Johnson at the Hyde Park memorial to the victims.

In a hand-written note attached to the wreath laid at the memorial on behalf of the Government, Prime Minister David Cameron said: 'In memory of the victims of terrorism in London on 7 July 2005. They will never be forgotten.'

The PM led tributes in the Commons today to those who were killed and injured.

At question time, Mr Cameron said everyone would remember 'where they were and what they were doing when that dreadful news came through'.

He told a packed chamber: 'Our hearts should go out to the families and friends of those who died. They will never be forgotten

'Our thoughts are also with those who were injured, physically and mentally, by the dreadful events of that day.

'It was a dreadful day but it is also a day that will remain, I believe, a symbol of the enduring bravery of the British people.'

Mr Cameron said the emergency services had played an 'unbelievably brilliant role' on the day of the bombings.


Reflection: Two women lay flowers at the permanent Hyde Park memorial, which was officially opened by Prince Charles on July 7 last year

Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman echoed the Prime Minister's sentiments, saying: 'Today we remember those who were killed and injured and their families and friends.

'We pay tribute to the emergency services who responded with such care and courage and we stand with the Government in our determination to defeat those who would bring terror to our streets.'

The atrocities carried out by Islamic extremists on Tube trains and a bus in 2005 left 52 innocent people dead and more than 700 injured.

Many survivors and bereaved families will mark the day with private gatherings at the memorial and the sites of the four blasts.


Sympathy: Wreaths were laid at the Hyde Park memorial on behalf of Prime Minister David Cameron (left) and London Mayor Boris Johnson (right)

The lack of an official ceremony has upset many of those affected by the tragedy, according to Graham Foulkes, whose 22-year-old son David was killed in the Edgware Road bombing.

Mr Foulkes said: 'I am very disappointed. This was an attack against the country. This is the fifth anniversary, a significant one, but even the Mayor of London will not be present.

'I don't think any of us are saying we want this to become an annual major event, but I think on the fifth anniversary the least the Prime Minister could do is attend and lay a wreath.

'This was a national attack, and it's really disappointing. I know it's upset many people.'

He contrasted Britain's attitude to marking the 7/7 anniversary with the active approach taken to remembering the 9/11 attacks in the United States.

'The mindset of New Yorkers and the authorities in New York is completely different to here,' he said.

'The Americans had an independent inquiry. Here we can't even get the inquests to run within a reasonable timetable.

'Here we are at a significant anniversary and even the Mayor can't be bothered to attend.'


Tribute: Firemen mark the fifth anniversary of the bombings in Tavistock Square


Paying his respects: A man reads floral tributes left by survivors and relatives of victims near the spot where the number 30 bus exploded

In previous years Mr Foulkes and his wife have marked the anniversary by visiting their son's grave, but this year they will travel to London and meet other families at Edgware Road.

Transport for London is organising private rooms and trained support staff for bereaved relatives and survivors near the sites of the three Tube bombings.


A tribute left by the London Ambulance Service at King's Cross station this morning

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which is responsible for organising 7/7 memorials, said none of the families had contacted it since last year asking for an official event to mark today's anniversary.

A spokesman said: 'At the request of the families of the victims, there is no formal ceremony this year, their view being that the opening of the permanent memorial by the Prince of Wales last year was the appropriate way to finish that stage of their grieving.'

A spokeswoman for Mr Johnson said the Mayor followed the advice of the DCMS on marking the anniversary.

July 7, 2005 dawned with London still elated from learning the previous day that it had won the 2012 Olympics, but the euphoria was short-lived.

Suicide bombers Mohammed Sidique Khan, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, Hasib Hussain, 18, and Jermaine Lindsay, 19, met at Luton station that morning.

They took a train to King's Cross in London, then hugged and separated to carry out their deadly missions.

Within three minutes of 8.50am, Tanweer detonated his bomb at Aldgate, Khan set his device off at Edgware Road and Lindsay blew himself up between King's Cross and Russell Square. Hussain detonated his device on board the number 30 bus at Tavistock Square at 9.47am.

A fortnight later, another four would-be suicide bombers launched failed attacks on the Tube and a bus, leading to police marksmen shooting dead innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes.

The inquests into the deaths of those killed in the 7/7 atrocities will finally be held at the Royal Courts of Justice in London this autumn.


Moment of silence: Prime Minister David Cameron today praised the emergency services for playing an 'unbelievably brilliant role' on the day of the bombings

Ken Livingstone, who was London mayor at the time, said: 'July 7, 2005 was a day we will never forget.

'It was a day in which many people were caught up in an act of horrific criminal violence and a day when Londoners also demonstrated why this city is the greatest in the world.

'Londoners from all communities united against the appalling acts of terror and chose hope and humanity over division.

'I hope that people across London today will spare some time to reflect on what happened five years ago, the people whose lives were lost and those who were caught up in the events, and the great bravery and solidarity of Londoners we saw on and after the 7th.'

The secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, Farooq Murad, will lead a delegation from the UK's Islamic community to pay their respects to the victims of the attacks at the Hyde Park memorial today.

The National Muslim Women's Advisory Group issued a statement 'deploring' the actions of the 7/7 bombers and saying that what they had done could "never be justified" in the name of Islam.

'Today our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this tragedy and continue to suffer from its outcome either directly or indirectly,' it said.

'In our role as advisers on issues relating to Muslim women across the whole of the UK, we join together with all the voices of condemnation and stand united against all forms of hate nationally and globally which so often manifests itself into unspeakable violence.'

dailymail.co.uk
 
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