Heroic acts recognised in 7/7 tributes

Senior police leaders have paid tribute to the victims of the July 7, 2005, bombings in moving ceremonies in London.

Events were held across Central London on Tuesday to mark ten years since the worst terrorist attack on mainland UK.

On July 7, 2005, three men from Leeds and a man from Aylesbury detonated explosives they were carrying in a concerted terrorist attack. Three of the bombs were set off on separate London Underground trains close to Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square stations just before 9am. The fourth bomber detonated his device on a number 30 bus in Tavistock Square one hour later.

Besides the bombers, 52 people were killed and 770 people were injured, many seriously.

On Tuesday, senior officers from the British Transport Police (BTP), the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the City of London Police laid wreaths at the memorial to the tragedy in Hyde Park and at the four sites where bombs were detonated.

Many emergency service personnel who were involved in the rescue effort in 2005 then attended a national service of commemoration at St Paul’s Cathedral. The service also brought together relatives of those who died and survivors of the tragedy.

At 11.30am a minute’s silence was observed across the UK with visitors to train and London Underground stations coming to a standstill.

In the afternoon a service attended by the Duke of Cambridge was held in Hyde Park.

MPS Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “Today is a day to remember and reflect. To remember those whose lives were taken from them, the hundreds of people injured and caught up in the horrific carnage, and all those people whose loved ones never returned home.

“It is a time to reflect upon our city, how strongly we came together to stand up to the threat we faced, and to send a message to terrorists that London was, and continues to be, strong, united and vibrant.

“For so many of my officers and staff, July 7, 2005, is a day that they too will never forget. A day that doing their duty meant running towards scenes of horror that were unimaginable, not knowing what would face them when they arrived and doing their absolute very best to help.

“Their actions, emergency services colleagues and the public were brave, professional and fill me with humility and pride for what they collectively delivered. The hard work continued in the days and weeks that followed.

“We will never, ever be complacent. While I hope that we will never need to deliver such a response again, if we do we will be ready.

“My thoughts today are with those taken from us, those who were affected, remain affected and with my own men and women who, day-in, day-out, are here for London.”

BTP Chief Constable Paul Crowther said the heroic efforts of BTP personnel and all agencies who responded to the events of July 7, 2005, will never be forgotten and the memories of what happened on that day remain firmly in their minds.

“The tenth anniversary of these horrendous attacks is a chance for everyone to pay their respects to those who were killed and injured,” he said.

“During the most difficult circumstances, BTP provided an absolutely outstanding level of service.”

Mr Crowther said many changes have been made since the atrocity in how threats are monitored and how the police respond.

“We now have comprehensive communications system, which allows us to link in with Transport for London and other agencies much more efficiently,” he added.

“We have far greater access to CCTV, with more widespread coverage than ten years ago, and we use regular training exercises to test our response to threats.

“All of these changes are designed to help us ensure this terrible tragedy never happens again.”