London remembers 7/7 bombings 10 years on

(Vatican Radio) Tuesday marks the tenth anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings, an attack considered to be the worst act of terrorism to take place on British soil.

Listen to Ann Schneible’s report:

Memorials and moments of silence were held in the British capital in remembrance of the deadly suicide attacks on London’s transportation network.

Prime Minister David Cameron and London mayor Boris Johnson stood silently before laying a wreath at the 7/7 memorial in Hyde Park.

The day also includes a remembrance service held at St Paul’s Cathedral for victims’ families, survivors, and members of the emergency services caught up in the bombings.

56 people including the attackers were killed and 700 were injured in the early hours of July 7, 2005 when four al-Qaeda inspired suicide bombers detonated their homemade explosives at three underground train stations and a bus in London.

In an interview with LBC radio, Former Prime Minister Tony Blair said he was in Scotland for the G8 summit when the attacks took place, and rushed back to London upon receiving the news.

He denied the suggestion that Britain's role in the 2003 war and subsequent occupation in Iraq led to the bombings.

“We’re not going to allow anyone to excuse themselves by saying that the slaughter of totally innocent people is somehow a response to any decision by any government,” Blair told LBC radio.

“It’s the responsibility of those who carry out these acts of terrorism, and those who incite them.”

The 2005 attack in London also marked first suicide bombings by Islamist militants in western Europe.