Today marks 20 years since the most tragic terrorist attack in British history. on 7 July 2005, during the morning rush hour, London became the target of coordinated attacks carried out by four suicide bombers. Fifty-two people were killed and more than 700 injured as a result of underground and bus explosions. Among the victims were three Polish women. To commemorate those tragic events, a memorial – the 7 July Memorial – was unveiled in Hyde Park on 7 July 2009.
The darkest day in modern London
The attacks occurred on the morning of 7 July 2005. At 8.50am, three bombs exploded almost simultaneously on Underground trains: between Aldgate and Liverpool Street stations, Russell Square and King’s Cross St Pancras and near Edgware Road station. Less than an hour later, a fourth charge exploded on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square, killing 13 people. The perpetrators of the attack were four UK nationals of Pakistani and Jamaican origin. The men used homemade explosives that did not arouse suspicion when transported in rucksacks.
The aftermath of the events
The attacks on 7 July were the first ever suicide attack carried out on British territory. The events shocked public opinion for a long time and had far-reaching consequences – from tighter security laws to a deeper debate on integration, religious extremism and social surveillance. Among the 52 victims of the attacks were three Polish nationals. They were all killed on their morning commute to work. The tragedy received widespread attention in Poland and the memory of the dead is still cherished today by their families, friends and local communities.
7 July Memorial
A permanent memorial to the victims of the attacks is the 7 July Memorial located on the east side of Hyde Park, between Lover’s Walk and Park Lane, near Curzon Gate. The memorial consists of 52 steel columns, 3.5 metres high, arranged in four groups – each symbolising one of the attack sites: Tavistock Square, Edgware Road, King’s Cross and Aldgate. The columns are anonymous, but each bears the date, location and time of the explosion. A separate plaque, placed next to it, contains the names of all the victims. The memorial was created by a team of architects from the Carmody Groarke studio, in collaboration with the families of the victims and the UK government. The design was created in consultation with well-known sculptor Antony Gormley, and Sheffield-based Norton Cast Products was responsible for casting the columns. The unveiling of the memorial took place on 7 July 2009, the fourth anniversary of the attacks, with the families of the victims and state and city officials in attendance.
Significance of the 7 July Memorial
Today, the 7 July Memorial remains one of the most important landmarks on the map of modern London. The tragic events of 20 years ago tore the hearts of many Britons and people of other nationalities in the country. The memorial, set amidst the greenery of Hyde Park, provides an enclave of silence, reflection and remembrance of the attacks that significantly shaped the shape and functioning of Britain today.
Source: london.gov.uk, bbc.com
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