
Prince William, PM Keir Starmer mark 20th anniversary of London 7/7 attacks
King Charles , Prince William, Prime Minister
Keir Starmer and countless ordinary Londoners paused on Monday to mark the 20th anniversary of the 2005 London transit bombings, the deadliest attack on the British capital since World War II.
Advertisement
Fifty-two people died and more than 770 were wounded when four British men inspired by al-Qaeda blew themselves up on three London Underground trains and a bus during the morning rush hour on July 7, 2005. They were the first suicide bombings on European soil.
Two weeks later, four other bombers attempted a similar attack but their devices failed to explode. No one was hurt.
The bombings remain seared into London's collective memory, and the anniversary was marked with events including a ceremony at the 7/7 memorial in Hyde Park and a service of commemoration at St Paul's Cathedral.
At 8.50am, the moment the first bomb exploded 20 years ago, Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan laid wreaths at the Hyde Park monument, a group of 52 steel columns commemorating the people who were killed.
Advertisement
At London Underground stations near where the explosions hit, staff and commuters paused for a minute's silence, and spectators fell quiet ahead of the day's play at the Wimbledon tennis tournament.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
UK signs investment deals on US$51 billion Sizewell C nuclear plant
The UK has made a final investment decision on the Sizewell C nuclear power plant, a £38 billion (US$51 billion) project that would be critical to the country's energy and climate goals. The British government will retain a minority stake of around 45 per cent, while other investors include French state-owned Electricite de France SA, Caisse de Dépôt et Placement du Québec, Centrica Plc and Amber Infrastructure Group Ltd. The major backing from private investors in the project was seen by the government as a key victory as the UK tries to drive investment and economic growth. The government said it would ensure the impact on consumer bills was limited to an average of around £1 per month over the duration of Sizewell C's construction. It was a milestone for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government to drive investment in low-carbon electricity supply to cut emissions and boost economic growth. EDF has said the two reactors in Suffolk on England's east coast would supply power to 6 million households for about 60 years. 'Today we announce an investment that will provide clean, home-grown power to millions of homes for generations to come,' UK Energy Minister Ed Miliband said in a statement on Tuesday.


South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
How the India–UK trade deal could shape future pacts with the EU and US
India and Britain are poised to sign a long-awaited free trade agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi 's visit to London this week, a deal analysts see as a signal that New Delhi is willing to shed its traditionally protectionist stance and engage more deeply with Western partners amid rising global trade tensions. Advertisement The pact, which follows three years of negotiations, is expected to be finalised during Modi's bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer , which begin on Wednesday. According to Indian officials, the two leaders will also review the India–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and discuss matters related to security and technology. British estimates project the deal will boost bilateral trade by £25.5 billion (US$34.13 billion) annually by 2040. Trade between the two countries reached £42.6 billion last year, making India the UK's 11th-largest trading partner. 'I think this [India–UK FTA] is also about signalling from India that it is open to better integrating with the global economy – that it is ready to sign difficult trade agreements,' said Harsh Pant, a professor of international relations at King's College London. If approved by the British Parliament and India's federal cabinet, the agreement would take effect within a year, removing trade barriers and granting duty-free access to most goods. Britain's Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds meets Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal for trade talks in London on April 28. Photo: Reuters India has had a mixed track record with free trade agreements, with several deals over the past two decades leading to persistent trade deficits and, in some cases, domestic backlash from industries and states concerned about import surges.


South China Morning Post
a day ago
- South China Morning Post
Scottish police union considers legal action over plans for Trump's visit
Police officers are weighing up legal action against Police Scotland over its plans for Trump's visit. The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents 98 per cent of all police officers in Scotland, said the force has already breached health and safety standards in the run-up to the visit. Thousands of officers are expected to be involved in what Police Scotland has described as a 'significant policing operation'. The White House has confirmed Trump will visit his golf courses in Aberdeenshire and Ayrshire between July 25 and 29. He will meet Scottish First Minister John Swinney as well as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his private trip. The visit is likely to result in widespread protests, following similar demonstrations during his last visit to Scotland. Police Scotland said earlier this month it would seek help from the Scottish and UK governments over the 'considerable' cost of policing Trump's visit.