2. A series of coordinated suicide attacks on London's public
transport system during the morning rush hour, killed 52
people and injured more than 700.
Chaos erupted across the capital, echoing the horrific terrorist
attacks faced by New York four years before, on 11 September
2001.
The worst bombing in London since WWII, it brought the
city’s public transport network to a standstill.
Initially, Metro net said a power surge has caused an
explosion in the London tube station, later European
Union Commissioner for Justice and Security Affairs Franco
told reporters the blasts in London are terrorist attacks.
3. The bombers were later confirmed to be Muslim
extremists.
30 year old Mohammad Sidique Khan,
24 year old Shehzad Tanweer,
19 year old Germaine Lindsay
and Hasib Hussain the bus bomber was only 18 years
old.
Following the events of 7/7 all four bombers were
found to be British citizens said to be leading normal
every day lives, including Khan who was a respected
teaching assistant in his native Beeston, Leeds.
4.
5. British Prime Minister Tony Blair declared in a public
statement the "barbaric" London blasts are terrorist attacks
and were designed to coincide with the G8 summit in
Scotland to disrupt it.
To further promote the myths of "Arab/Muslim terrorists" and
the "War on Terror".
To divert attention from Blair's lied leading to British
participation in the war on Iraq.
The 7/7 bombers' action came the day after the
announcement that London had been awarded the 2012
Olympic Games.
6.
7. Al Jazeera aired a videotape of Mohammed Sidique Khan calling Osama
bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi "today's heroes."
Two of the bombers made videotapes describing their reasons for
becoming what they called "soldiers". In a videotape broadcast by Al
Jazeera on 1 September 2005, Mohammad Sidique Khan, described his
motivation.
The focus of the Khan’s video is on perceived injustices carried out by the
West against Muslims.
On 6 July 2006, a videotaped statement by Shehzad Tanweer was
broadcast by Al-Jazeera.
Tanweer argued that the non-Muslims of Britain deserve such attacks
because they voted for a government which "continues to oppress our
mothers, children, brothers and sisters in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq and
Chechnya."
8. The four bombers were not the culprits,
not bombers, and merely innocent
civilians along with all the other victims.
The real killers, according to the theory,
were members of the UK government’s
security, including MI5, and that PM Tony
Blair, and even the Queen, knew all
about it.
9.
10. The officer in charge of policing the G8 summit said many of the 1,500
Metropolitan Police officers in Scotland would be urgently redeployed to
London.
Celebrations to mark the homecoming from Singapore of the successful
London Olympic bid team were cancelled.
54 state schools were closed in Westminster.
Mobile phone services across London were jammed.
Thousands of commuters faced difficult journeys as major routes of London
were blocked.
Muslim communities across the UK came under greater criticism from
politicians, the media, and the security services.
A much greater impact on Muslim/non-Muslim relations in this country than
the 11 September attacks in the United States.
Acute psychological impact on the population.
11. The British pound decreased 0.89 cents against the U.S.
dollar.
The FTSE 100 Index fell by about 200 points during the two
hours after the first attack. This was its greatest decrease
since the invasion of Iraq, and it triggered the London Stock
Exchange's 'Special Measures', restricting panic selling and
aimed at ensuring market stability.
U.S. market indexes increased slightly, partly because the
dollar index increased sharply against the pound and the
euro.
Bombs also cost UK tourism; £300 million.
12. Media created hype.
Hostility and distrust against Islam's
around the world.
Inflicts fear on neighboring countries and
subsequently the rest of the world.
Threatens national and international
security making people more resilient.
13. To consistently, clearly and strongly
condemn terrorism in all its forms and
manifestations, committed by
whomever, wherever and for whatever
purposes, as it constitutes one of the
most serious threats to international
peace and security.
14. Home Secretary announced a fast-tracked anti-terror bill.
This legislation criminalizes most act directly and indirectly
connected to terrorism. (July, 2005)
The bill constantly being reviewed and a new Counter-
terrorism Bill 2008 formed.
The laws of the bills have became harsher and more precise.
For e.g.
1. the clarification of the power to "stop and search", to check
for any suspicious objects or potential weapons
2.also increment of pre-charge detention from 28 days to 42
days to ensure precision of investigation
15. Underground revealed in November its plans
to increase the number of CCTV cameras,
currently at 6,000, to double the present
number by 2010.
Trials of random airport-format security
checks, and subways will carry out check on
random passengers through body scanners
and passing their bags through x-rays.
16. PM Tony Blair suggested major changings in Counter-
terrorism Policy.
Increasing policing has also formed an intuitive part of
the response to the current bombing campaign:
manpower in the police forces stood at 139,728, a
record level in Britain and an increase of 12,5000 from
1997.
Increased £90 million, to fund upgrades in
Birmingham and Manchester as well as increased
surveillance and gathering of intelligence.