Exactly ten years ago today, London and all of the UK was rocked by the tragedy that unfolded as a result of four bombs exploding in the capital, three on trains and one on a packed double decker bus.
The first bomb, on the eastbound Circle Line train which had just left the Liverpool Street platform, was detonated at 8.50am, killing eight people and injuring 171. The second explosion occured moments later at Edgeware Road. Seven people were killed and 163 were injured. The third occured around the same time between King’s Cross and Russell Square with the blast killing 27 and injuring more than 300.
Almost an hour later, the fourth bomb went off on the Number 30 bus at Tavistock Square. The explosion killed 14 and injured more than 100. As a result, all buses in Central London were stopped along with all underground services, while overground services were also badly disrupted.
Paying tribute to those killed in the attacks, Prime Minister David Cameron said today that the nation would, “honour their memory forever.”
Survivors of the tragedy, many left with life-changing injuries, have spoken about what they remember of the day. Gill Hicks, now a double amputee, was on the Kings Cross/Russell Square train and told Sky News:
“The whole of my world went completely black and I thought, in that moment, ‘I’ve just died’.”
Another survivor, Emma Craig, who was just 14 at the time, gave an emotional speech at a memorial event in Hyde Park, which was attended by Prince William and London Mayor Boris Johnson. She said:
“Quite often people say ‘It didn’t break us, terrorism won’t break us’. The fact is, it may not have broken London, but it did break some of us.”
This morning, commuters in London were encouraged to #WalkTogether by getting off their trains one stop early and walking the rest of the way to their destinations in a show of solidarity and remembrance. Scores of people took to social media to post photos and messages. Nihal Arthanayake wrote on Twitter:
Leaving the house a bit earlier today so I can walk part of the way to work to remember those who died on 7/7 #walktogether
— Nihal Arthanayake (@TherealNihal) July 7, 2015
In the wake of the recent Tunisia tragedy and as London marks the 10th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on its country, the world continues to stand united in the face of terrorism and remind those who wish to do us harm that they will not defeat us.
Everyone here at PopWrapped sends their love and thoughts to the families and friends of those killed and to the survivors who have shown such strength and bravery in the face of adversity.
