7/7: To many, this may just appear to be another date but for the majority of Londoners, it is a traumatic memory that will forever be etched into our minds.
Ten years on from the deadly bomb attacks that took place on the London underground and on one bus in Tavistock Square, on 7th July 2005, London has evolved as a city, refusing to let such attacks deter the spirit of its people as they forge ahead in life.
The bombings took 52 lives and injured more than 700 people. The bomb attacks not only had a great impact on those who were the victims, but also on the passersby who had seen the aftermath with their own eyes, causing them to be traumatised at what they had seen. Many family members of the victims can still clearly recall the ordeal they had experienced when they heard of the attacks and how hopeless they had felt during that phase.
As much as Britain may be moving forward, it would not be farfetched to claim that many Britons fear that something on the scales of the 7/7 bombings may take place again. Most recently, the Tunisia hotel shooting incident killed 38 people, many were British tourists who were on holiday. Plus, incidents on the tube, such as the grenade fear at South Kensington tube station terrify many travellers. People are constantly living in fear, not knowing when a normal commute could end up becoming their last day on earth.
Sajda Mughal, a passenger who was travelling on the Piccadilly line between King's Cross and Russell Square on 7/7 recalls what had happened when she was on the train. She said, 'We must have been out of Kings’ Cross 10 seconds when the explosion happened. You felt the train shake – I thought we had crashed and derailed. It was quiet at first and then gradually there was screaming. My reaction was to be very still... We’d been down there for about 50 minutes when we heard distant cries saying: “It’s the police.” I can’t even describe the relief when we were led down the tracks to safety.'
Mughal also stated how she was horrified and disgusted when she found out that the four attacks were carried out by four Muslim men. She said, 'Being a Muslim myself, I thought: “Well, why? Why would you do that? What ideology did you possess?” If they’d known their religion, it clearly states that to kill one innocent life is killing all humanity. From then on, questions played on my mind. Why didn’t the families of the bombers pick up on any signs that they were being brainwashed? Could they have been helped if something had been detected within the home?'
Another passenger who was also travelling on the Piccadilly line is Sudhesh Dahad. He speaks about how the experience left him traumatised to the extent that he wanted to get away from London. 'After that I wanted to get away from London. I tried to relocate my job to the US. I felt the psychological treatment I was receiving wasn’t working; therapists would throw statistics at me to show my fears were unfounded, but I just became more paranoid. I worried about everything from a potential pile-up on the motorway to light bulbs exploding.'
Dahad, however, is grateful for life and hopes to overcome his fears.
We ought to salute the courage of the victims of such a heinous crime as they have bravely chosen to move on and try to live life to the fullest. Many living victims had to suffer severely, some even losing their limbs, however, the incident has surely not shackled their courageous spirit. But one can't help to wonder whether our safety is yet at risk. Could the recent attacks in Tunisia and ongoing bomb-scare around London mean that doomsday isn't that far away for us?
Names of victims who lost their lives on 7/7
Russell Square:
James Adams
Ciaran Cassidy
Rachel Chung
Elizabeth Daplyn
Gamze Gunoral
Emily Jenkins
Adrian Johnson
Helen Jones
Michael Matsushita
James Mayes
Behnaz Mozakka
Atique Sharifi
Monica Suchocka
Mala Trivedi
Arthur Frederick
Karolina Gluck
Mihaela Otto
Ihab Slimane
Anna Brandt
Ojara Ikeagwu
Christian Small
Philip Beer
Samatha Badham
Lee Harris
Shelley Mather
Susan Levy
Tavistock Square:
Anat Rosenberg
Neetu Jain
Anthony Fatayi-Williams
Shyanuja Parathasangary
Philip Russell
Giles Hart
Jamie Gordon
Shahara Islam
William Wise
Miriam Hyman
Marie Hartley
Gladys Wundowa
Sam Ly
Aldgate:
Richard Gray
Lee Baisden
Benedetta Ciaccia
Richard Ellery
Anne Moffat
Fiona Stevenson
Carrie Taylor
Edgware Road:
Michael Brewster
Laura Webb
Jonathan Downey
David Foulkes
Colin Morley
Jennifer Nicholson
Comments on the 7/7 bombings:
My brother was stuck at Liverpool Street Station for 12 hours after the bombings. It was difficult to get in contact with him and everyone at home were completely worried. For a year, I was scared to travel by tube; I avoided it like a plague! Shweta Phulwari.
I really hate what these horrendous people have done. They know nothing about Islam and their actions have tarnished our reputation in Britain. It gets difficult at times for me to even mention that I am a Muslim without being frowned upon or looked at with fear. Ishmail Qureshi.
I remember the spirit of Londoners after the horrific events. They went on to continue living without fear. Most people went back to travelling by public transport a day after the attacks. It shows that we beat terrorism and we will continue to do so. Nothing can deter our spirit. Monica Braganza.
