2. 7/7 BOMBINGS
The largest terror attack in London history, on the 7th July 2005 four Islamic extremists boarded public transport across the capital, three in the tight quarters of the underground, the last a double decker bus in Tavistock Square.
The first explosion occurred between Liverpool Street and Aldgate, killing 7 commuters , the second detonation destroyed a train which had just left Edgeware Road heading towards Paddington, killing 6. The third and final underground blast came as another train was heading southbound from Kings Cross, leading to the deaths of 26.
The last explosion came over an hour after the initial blasts, which all occurred within a minute of each other at approximately 8:50 AM, the final bomb exploding on a bus in Tavistock Square, killing 13. Over 700 people were injured by the four bombs. The much higher numbers of casualties as a result of the third tube bomb were somewhat explained by the design of the tunnels, wherein those around the site reflected the blast inwards more so than in the other bomb attacks.
The four bombers were all radicalised Muslims who had previously been completely unknown to security services. One of the men, Shehzad Tanweer, left a video tape message containing a chilling forewarning of further attacks:
“What have you witnessed now is only the beginning of a string of attacks that will continue and become stronger until you pull your forces out of Afghanistan and Iraq. And until you stop your financial and military support to America and Israel.”
