logo
Starmer, Cooper and King Charles mark 20th anniversary of 7/7 attacks

Starmer, Cooper and King Charles mark 20th anniversary of 7/7 attacks

The Guardian6 days ago
Keir Starmer, King Charles and the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, have marked the 20th anniversary of the 7 July attacks in London in which Islamist suicide bombers killed 52 people and injured more than 770.
The prime minister said: 'Today the whole country will unite to remember the lives lost in the 7/7 attacks, and all those whose lives were changed for ever. We honour the courage shown that day – the bravery of the emergency services, the strength of survivors and the unity of Londoners in the face of terror.
'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 of freedom, democracy and the rule of law.'
The king said people should remember those who were killed in attacks on three London Underground trains and a bus, but also the stories of courage and compassion that day.
'Today, as we mark 20 years since the tragic events of 7th July 2005, my heartfelt thoughts and special prayers remain with all those whose lives were for ever changed on that terrible summer's day,' he said.
'We remember with profound sadness the 52 innocent people who were killed in senseless acts of evil – and the enduring grief of their loved ones. We recall, too, the hundreds more who carry physical and psychological scars, and pray that their suffering may ease as the years pass.
'In doing so, we should also remember the countless stories of extraordinary courage and compassion that emerged from the darkness of that day. The selfless bravery of our emergency services, transport workers and fellow citizens who rushed towards danger to help strangers reminds us of the very best of humanity in the face of the very worst.'
Cooper said: 'Twenty years have passed since 7/7 but the passage of time makes what happened that day no less shocking. It was an appalling attack on our capital city and on democracy itself.
'As we come together to mark this anniversary, my thoughts remain with the victims, survivors and all who loved them. Amid the horror of that day, we saw the best of people, our emergency services, first responders and ordinary Londoners who bravely acted to help one another. Their courage continues to inspire us.'
Two weeks after the attacks, five other would-be suicide bombers tried to detonate similar devices on tube carriages and a bus, but one terrorist dumped his device and the four other bombs failed to properly detonate, causing no injuries.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ofcom chief to be questioned about new online safety rules by Laura Kuenssberg
Ofcom chief to be questioned about new online safety rules by Laura Kuenssberg

BBC News

time13 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Ofcom chief to be questioned about new online safety rules by Laura Kuenssberg

Update: Date: 08:31 BST Title: Changes to online safety top of the agenda on Kuenssberg this week Content: It's Sunday morning - and can only mean one thing. Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg is about to begin. On today's show, Kuenssberg speaks to chief executive of Ofcom Melanie Dawes. It comes as tech platforms will soon be legally obliged to stop children seeing harmful content online, after years of campaigning and political debate. You can read more about this here. Also in the hot seat this week will be Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp. Analysing this week's headlines on the panel will be Ian Russell from the Molly Rose Foundation, broadcaster Kay Burley and journalist and free speech campaigner Inaya Folarin Iman. A reminder that this page will not contain regular updates, but you can watch the show by ticking watch live above from 09:00 BST.

Prince Harry and King Charles' aides hold ‘secret summit' amid speculation over end to royal rift
Prince Harry and King Charles' aides hold ‘secret summit' amid speculation over end to royal rift

The Independent

time13 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Prince Harry and King Charles' aides hold ‘secret summit' amid speculation over end to royal rift

Senior aides to the King and Duke of Sussex have been pictured together in London in what is reported to be an initial step towards restoring the relationship between Harry and the rest of the royal family. Images obtained by the Mail On Sunday show Meredith Maines, the duke's chief communications officer, and Liam Maguire, who runs Harry and Meghan's UK public relations team, meeting the King's communications secretary Tobyn Andreae at the Royal Over-Seas League near Clarence House. The Mail reports it is not known which side initiated the meeting, but a source told the paper: 'There's a long road ahead, but a channel of communication is now open for the first time in years. 'There was no formal agenda, just casual drinks. There were things both sides wanted to talk about.' Both parties have been contacted for comment. The rift between the Sussexes and the royal family opened significantly following their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, during which they alleged a member of the family was concerned about their son Archie's skin tone before he was born. Then the duke claimed in his controversial memoir, Spare, his brother the Prince of Wales had physically attacked him and that the King put his own interests above Harry's and was jealous of Meghan. Harry's level of security changed in 2020 when he and Meghan stepped down as working royals and moved to California for financial and personal freedom, and he suggested the royal family and officials hoped his realisation of the increased safety risk 'would force us to come back'. The duke failed in an appeal against the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office, over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the UK. In a BBC television interview after losing the latest round in his court battle over his security, Harry claimed the King will not speak to him and he does not know 'how much longer my father has' as he spoke of his hopes for a 'reconciliation' with his family. Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February last year.

Lord Mandelson says Nigel Farage is 'peaking too soon' to become PM despite admitting that Keir Starmer's election landslide was down to 'anger'
Lord Mandelson says Nigel Farage is 'peaking too soon' to become PM despite admitting that Keir Starmer's election landslide was down to 'anger'

Daily Mail​

time18 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Lord Mandelson says Nigel Farage is 'peaking too soon' to become PM despite admitting that Keir Starmer's election landslide was down to 'anger'

Lord Mandelson has predicted that Nigel Farage is 'peaking too soon' to become PM despite acknowledging that Labour majority was down to a 'sense of anger'. The former Cabinet minister - now UK ambassador to the US - said Mr Farage is a 'highly effective populist' as polls show Reform with a significant lead. But he insisted that by the time of the election people will be choosing a government rather than 'having a fling'. The comments came in an interview with the Sunday Times - where Lord Mandelson also lavished praise on Donald Trump. The peer said Mr Trump was a 'phenomenon' who 'dominated' Washington and would be 'one of the most consequential presidents in American history'. He also argued that the Republican would get a 'warm welcome' from Brits on his state visit in September - and appeared to confirm for the first time that the trip will happen while Parliament is in recess. That would reduce the potential for protests as Mr Trump will not be able to give an address to both Houses - an honour that was granted to Emmanuel Macron last week. Lord Mandelson recounted a recent conversation he had with US vice president JD Vance. 'I explained to the vice-president that, yes, highly effective populists and political actors like Farage can take advantage,' the New Labour architect said. 'At the end of the day, at the election people will be choosing their future government - not having a fling, expressing a protest or demonstrating their impatience. 'And in that sense, I said, perhaps Nigel is peaking too soon.' Lord Mandelson compared the political situations in the UK and US as he tried to explain why the Labour government has been struggling to make headway. He said: 'The mandates that both President Trump and Keir Starmer won at their elections last year came from the same sense of anger that many voters have. 'That they've been overlooked: the system was not delivering for them, that they were being taken for granted. 'But what's different about Britain is that we seem to have been travelling through a long, dark tunnel for ten years, with no signs of light or hope. 'It has seemed one thing after another. And I feel people are emerging from that tunnel, almost blinking into the daylight.' Lord Mandelson said of the State Visit: 'He should expect a warm reception because he really does love Britain. He hugely admires it. 'He trusts Keir Starmer. It's not a question of expressing our gratitude. My lodestar here is to demonstrate respect, not sycophancy. I don't think the administration has any problem with that.' Reminded that Labour left-wingers have started a petition against Mr Trump addressing both Houses of Parliament, the peer said: 'Well there's a surprise... But I had assumed that at the time of the visit parliament won't be sitting.' Lord Mandelson said Mr Trump is a 'more nuanced figure than people appreciate'. 'Look, he's not only a unique politician - he's also going to be one of the most consequential presidents in American history,' the ambassador said. 'He has this sense of history, this grasp of power which I think perhaps recent inhabitants of the White House haven't quite seen. He is not a man for endless seminars and thinking. 'He's not a victim of analysis paralysis. He has a very quick, easy way of grasping the core points about an issue. And let's be honest: more often than not, there's a kernel of truth in everything he says.' Lord Mandelson joked that the MAGA crowd in Washington 'regard me as a slightly exotic target of their fascination'. He said a turning point in his job was when Mr Trump described him as 'handsome' during Sir Keir's visit to the White House. 'I've never been in a town or a political system that is so dominated by one individual,' he said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store