A Day of Reflection and Resilience
Twenty years after the devastating 7/7 attacks, London gathered to remember the 52 lives lost in the coordinated bombings that shook the capital during the morning rush hour of July 7, 2005. A memorial service held at St Paul’s Cathedral saw dignitaries, survivors, emergency responders, and bereaved families unite in tribute.
As part of the ceremony, the names of each victim were read aloud in a deeply emotional moment. Saba Edwards, whose mother Behnaz Mozakka was among those killed, choked back tears as she honored her memory. Thousands of white petals fell from the cathedral ceiling as Thelma Stober, a survivor of the Aldgate explosion, joined in the reading.
Dean Andrew Tremlett described the memorial as a moment to honor “the spirit of this city: its openness, its endurance, and its steadfast refusal to let the hatred prevail.”
Remembering the Attacks and Their Victims
The 2005 suicide bombings targeted three underground trains and one bus, injuring more than 700 and leaving a permanent scar on the city. The four blasts at Russell Square, Aldgate, Edgware Road, and Tavistock Square are represented in four candles carried through the cathedral during the national service.
Each candle signified not just the physical sites, but the emotional gravity of the attacks. Family members and first responders offered personal readings about each location. George Psaradakis, the driver of the number 30 bus destroyed in Tavistock Square, spoke about the 13 people killed in that explosion.
Graham Foulkes, who lost his son David at Edgware Road, reminded the congregation that the resilience and compassion of Londoners is what ultimately defines the city. “The good which is in Londoners is not erased by hatred or threat,” he said. “It is fostered to produce a harvest of hope.”
Royal Tributes and Public Acts of Remembrance
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended the cathedral service on behalf of King Charles III. The King released a message praising those who displayed “extraordinary courage and compassion” and calling for a continued “spirit of unity.”
In a parallel ceremony at Hyde Park, the Prince of Wales laid a wreath and spoke with attendees, including survivors and relatives of victims. At the 7/7 memorial in the park, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan paid their respects.
Elsewhere in the city, moments of silence were held at Edgware Road station and Tavistock Square at the exact times the bombs detonated. At Russell Square, mourners placed floral tributes where half of the fatalities occurred.
Survivors’ Stories and Messages of Unity
Thelma Stober, who suffered life-threatening injuries at Aldgate, recounted her trauma and the ongoing pain she endures. “If I could have amnesia to eliminate everything about the incident, I would,” she said. Despite the physical and emotional scars, she emphasized the importance of remembrance.
Kemi Lasisi-Ajao, a nurse at Royal London Hospital during the attacks, spoke with Prince William and shared her memory of meeting Queen Elizabeth II after the bombings. Her story reflects how ordinary Londoners rose to extraordinary acts of courage in the face of terror.
King Charles, a longtime advocate for interfaith dialogue and tolerance, called on Britons to continue building a society rooted in respect and understanding. He emphasized that while the horror of 7/7 will never be forgotten, the solidarity that followed is a guiding light.
Politics United in Mourning
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that the courage of emergency services and civilians remains an enduring inspiration. Leaders across the political spectrum joined in remembering those affected. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch expressed solidarity with those who “carry the pain of that day.”
Sir Keir Starmer summarized the collective sentiment: “Those who tried to divide us failed. We stood together then, and we stand together now—against hate and for the values that define us: freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.”
Twenty years on, London continues to grieve, but also to remember, resist, and rebuild. The 7/7 anniversary stands not only as a tribute to lives lost but as a reaffirmation of a city that refuses to be broken.
