52,000 petals fall in St Paul's to remember 52 victims of 7/7 bombings 20 years on
The Prime Minister and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh joined victims' families, survivors and emergency workers at St Paul's Cathedral yesterday to mark the 20th anniversary of the July 7 London bombings.
During the memorial service, the cathedral was filled with 52,000 white petals fluttering through the air like snow flakes as the names of the 52 dead were read out.
One victim's daughter, Saba Edwards, stoically read the names of those who died on the Piccadilly Line bombing, but her voice cracked and she was unable to hold back the tears as she came to her own mother Behnaz Mozakka.
Thelma Stober – who survived the Aldgate bomb but suffered life-changing injuries including the loss of her lower left leg – struggled to contain her emotions as she also read the names.
During the emotional service, tributes were paid to those who lost their lives as well as the hundreds injured in the attacks on three Tube trains and a double-decker bus in the worst single terrorist atrocity on British soil.
Survivors and relatives of those killed in the bombings spoke movingly about how the areas involved in the attacks have changed in the past 20 years.
Ellie Patsalos, the wife of Professor Philip Patsalos, who lost a leg in the blast between King's Cross and Russell Square stations, said: 'Here, men and women seek understanding and their search for truth challenges the ignorance which casts so much darkness over our world.'
With Keir Starmer at the commemorative ceremony were Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Yesterday the Prime Minister laid wreaths at the July 7 memorial in Hyde Park at 8.50am to coincide with the time the first bomb went off.
He was joined by officials including Scotland Yard Commissioner Mark Rowley, and the Chief Constable of the British Transport Police Lucy D'Orsi.
Prince William was also at the Hyde Park memorial, laying a floral tribute and listening to testimonies given by family members of those who died and people present at the attacks.
Sir Keir said: 'Today the whole country will unite to remember the lives lost in the 7/7 attacks, and all those whose lives were changed forever.
'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: freedom, democracy and the rule of law.'
The Home Secretary added: '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.'
Sir Sadiq said Londoners 'will always choose hope over fear and unity over division'.
He added, 'We also pay tribute to those who ran towards danger on that terrible day... their bravery and selflessness will never be forgotten.'
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