That day, July 7, 2005, Islamist extremists carried out a series of suicide bombings across London. This dreadful crime represented the bloodiest violence of the city since the Second World War. Four British men, radicalised in the UK and with links to al-Qaida, detonated explosive devices on three underground tube carriages and one bus. They attacked in the dawn rush hour to inflict maximum carnage and mayhem.
The bombings did more than rattle the city — they undeniably took 52 innocent lives while permanently injuring hundreds more. Gill Hicks, a long-term Australian expatriate, was one of the survivors. She was commuting, as she did every day, to her job at the Design Council in London. But as her train emerged from the tunnel between Kings Cross and Russell Square, it was rocked by an explosion.
Hicks reflected on the harrowing experience, stating, “People risked their lives to save my life, holding my broken body with unconditional love, that’s extraordinary. This is humanity, and I’m living proof of what happens when humanity comes together.”
Another survivor, Thelma Stober, described her harrowing experience. She was eventually pinned under the still moving train on the tracks. I watched bodies fly into the air… I watched bodies lying all around me. With my hand raised, I shouted, ‘Help me! Help me! I’m living and I don’t want to die!
Graham Foulkes, who lost son David Foulkes in the 7/7 attack at Edgware Road Station. Speaking at a memorial service convened in honor of those lost, he spoke of deep sorrow at their passing. Frankly, I shouldn’t even have this conversation with you. I should be at home at this hour, having dinner or going to the pub with David,” he said. It’s impossible to put into words the impact of having your child gunned down in such a senseless manner.
The attacks led to the most seismic shift in Britain’s counter-terrorism strategy. Mark Rowley, then Commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police, admitted that the attacks had a chilling effect on policing practices. He stated, “The first was the changes that brought policing and our security services, particularly MI5, much more close together so that we now have the closest joint operating arrangements anywhere in the world.”
King Charles shared a poignant tribute on social media, expressing condolences to the victims and their families. The effects of that sad day will remain, he added, the “spirit of unity” was key in allowing London to start to heal. The Prince of Wales has laid his own tributes at one memorial in Hyde Park.
Just two weeks after the first bombings, four other suicide bombers tried to carry out the same attack. Their devices did not explode, meaning that no one was killed. This incident put the public’s safety at risk and stressed the ever-looming threat of terrorism.
