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Cosmopolitan
01-07-2025
- Cosmopolitan
Where are the 21/7 bombers now? The true story of the failed terrorists and their attack on London
Netflix has had a fascinating run of devastatingly powerful true-crime series and films of late. We're talking the deeply disturbing A British Horror Story, revisiting the horrific crimes of Fred and Rose West and their killing spree back in the 1980s. And Grenfell: Uncovered, a documentary which looks at the safety failings that resulted in 72 people dying when a London tower block caught fire in 2017. Another four-parter that you should add to your watchlist is Attack on London: The 7/7 Bombings. The documentary, released 20 years after the July 7 bombings that killed 52 people and injured a further 700, looks at how four British citizens became extremists. The series also touches on the eerily similar suicide bomber plot which took place just two weeks after the 7/7 bombings. Known as the 21/7 bombings, this plot also involved extremists targeting the London underground and bus routes. Luckily, their plan failed when the explosive devices they were carrying didn't detonate properly. All five men fled the scene, sparking a high-pressure international manhunt to find the would-be terrorists before they potentially struck again. Here, we explore what happened to these men, where they are now and the events that happened followed the botched terror attack. At 12.26pm on 21 July 2005, Osman detonated a bomb at Shepherd's Bush Market tube station on London's Hammersmith & City underground line. The homemade explosive device failed to work because the solution of hydrogen peroxide used in the weapon was not strong enough. Instead of causing the chaos, carnage and casualties hoped by the terrorists, the bomb only had the strength of a small firework. Osman fled the scene immediately, and a manhunt was sparked as the Met Police scrambled to find him and his accomplices. However, officers discovered a gym membership card with Osman's name on it in the bag with the bomb. It linked him to an address in Scotia Road, Tulse Hill. When surveillance was placed on the property, officers wrongly identified Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezes as Osman and shot him dead. Osman himself had fled the country on a false passport, and was hiding in Rome at an apartment owned by his brother-in-law. Police, who were now monitoring Osman's phone, were alerted to Osman's whereabouts after he put an Italian SIM in his device. Osman was arrested in a raid by Italian authorities on 29 July 2005 and extradited to the UK. In a lengthy and well-documented trial, Osman's defence team claimed his bomb was a hoax, and was not intended to hurt bystanders; instead, this was only meant to be a protest about the Iraq war. However, this was rejected by the court and Osman was sentenced to life in prison, serving a minimum of 40 years. In 2008, the Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge by Osman and the four other bombers to have their convictions overturned. He is thought to be in the high security British jail, Belmarsh Prison. At 12.30pm on 21 July 2005, a small explosion was reported at Oval Underground station. However, the bomb did not detonate properly, resulting in Mohammed fleeing the scene. When police released images of the assailants, a member of the public recognised Mohammed and gave his name to the authorities. With Mohammed's name now on file, police were able to trace him to Dalgarno Gardens, a block of flats in west London by 29 August. Because there were fears Mohammed may have explosive devices on him, police told those who lived in the area to evacuate over a gas leak. They then raided the property, using tear gas to try and lure Mohammed out of his flat. Police ordered him to come out in his underwear with his hands up to ensure that he was not wearing any explosive devices. He followed orders, giving himself up to the police alongside Muktar Said Ibrahim, another suspected failed bomber, who was also hiding in the flat. At trial, Mohammed was found guilty of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of forty years. A 2008 appeal was rejected. In 2014, Mohammed and two of the other failed bombers appealed to the European Court of Human Rights about overturning their conviction. They claimed their convictions were unfair as they were denied access to lawyers during police questioning and statements they gave were subsequently used at trial. However, this was rejected. Mohammed is also thought to be serving his sentence at Belmarsh Prison. At 12.45pm on 21 July 2005, a small explosion was reported between Warren Street and Oxford Circus tube stations on the Victoria Line. Yasin Hassan Omar was the man carrying the homemade device, but — just like Osman's bomb — it wasn't strong enough to cause the carnage Omar had hoped. Omar escaped capture but, after the police appealed for information, he was identified by a neighbour who lived in the same block of London flats. When police raided Omar's address, they found evidence of extremist paraphernalia, but he was no longer there. He had, however, been recognised by a member of the public in Birmingham. When police reviewed CCTV, they found Omar had managed to travel openly by wearing a full Burka (a long, loose garment which covers the wearer and is traditionally worn by Muslim women). It was down to West Midlands Police to investigate the flat Omar had been traced to in Birmingham. When they arrived on 27 July, they found Omar in a bathtub wearing a backpack he claimed was full of explosives. However, one officer chose to taser Omar, and the backpack was actually empty. Omar was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum of 40 years before being considered for release. His 2008 appeal was rejected. In 2014 Omar, alongside Mohammed and another failed bomber, appealed to the European Court of Human Rights to have their conviction overturned. They claimed their sentences were unfair as they were denied access to lawyers during police questioning and statements they gave were subsequently used at trial. However, this was rejected. Omar is thought to be serving his sentence at Belmarsh Prison, alongside Mohammed and Osman. At 1.30pm, Muktar Said Ibrahim's bomb on the 26 bus from Waterloo to Hackney Wick failed to detonate. After the police released CCTV of Ibrahim on the bus, his own father recognised him and gave his name to the police. In a statement released at the time, Ibrahim's family distanced themselves from the failed bomber and said they had no knowledge of his terrorist activities. A statement issued by police read: 'The family wish to express their shock regarding recent events and in no way condone any acts of terrorism.' Ibrahim was arrested on 29 July 2005 after police raided a property in west London linked to Ramzi Mohammed. As Ibrahim was hiding alongside Mohammed, the pair were arrested together. At the 2007 trial, Ibrahim was found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of conspiracy to murder and sentenced to life imprisonment, to serve a minimum of forty years before being considered for release. In 2014, Ibrahim joined Omar and Mohammed in appealing to the European Court of Human Rights about overturning their conviction. They claimed their convictions were unfair as they were denied access to lawyers during police questioning and statements they gave were subsequently used at trial. However, this was rejected. He is thought to be held at Belmarsh Prison. Asiedu was linked to the attempted 21/7 bombings – however, he ditched his device in little Wormwood Scrubs Park in west London and later turned himself in to the authorities. During the 2007 trial, he testified against the other five defendants and later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause an explosion. On 20 November 2007, he was sentenced to 33 years in jail. He is thought to be held at Belmarsh Prison. In the weeks following the bombing, Brazilian electrician Jean Charles de Menezies was wrongly put under surveillance by the Met police. He lived in the same block of flats as Hussain Osman — and police mistook him for the Shepherd's Bush bomber. He was fatally shot at Stockwell station on 22 July 2005. In a statement, the Met Police said what had happened to de Menezies was 'a tragedy, and one that the Metropolitan Police Service regrets'. They also agreed to pay compensation to the de Menezes family. While the amount has not been publicly confirmed, reports at the time believe the payment was around £100,000. In 2015, the de Menezes's family took the British government to the European Court of Human Rights over the decision not to prosecute any police officer for the fatal shooting, which ultimately proved unsuccessful. Attack on London: Hunting the 7/7 Bombers is available to watch on Netflix now Kimberley Bond is a Multiplatform Writer for Harper's Bazaar, focusing on the arts, culture, careers and lifestyle. She previously worked as a Features Writer for Cosmopolitan UK, and has bylines at The Telegraph, The Independent and British Vogue among countless others.
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Inside Fred and Rose West's evil crimes, how many people they killed and where they are now
Netflix's new serial killer documentary, Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, delves into the crimes of the evil couple who killed multiple women between the 60s and 80s. Netflix has released a new documentary series about the horrific killings of Fred and Rose West between the 60s and 80s. Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story explores the harrowing crimes of Fred and Rose West, one of the UK's most notorious serial killer couples, who are known to have killed at least 12 young women, including their own daughter, Heather West. The three-part Netflix documentary includes never seen before police footage and unheard audio recordings, providing viewers with fresh insights into their case. The official synopsis reads: "Recently discovered police recordings and first-person accounts tell the story of Fred and Rose West, two of the UK's most prolific murderers." The streaming platform's new series is split into three episodes: 'Fred', 'Rose', and 'The Trial'. The first two episodes delve into the couple's backgrounds, and then the third surrounds the shocking discovery of their unforgivable crimes and the subsequent legal proceedings Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story is directed by Dan Dewsbury, known for working on Louis Theroux: Forbidden America. The documentary marks the second instalment of Netflix's 'A British Horror Story' series, following the 2022 documentary on Jimmy Savile. The chilling new Netflix documentary is available to watch now. What did Fred and Rose West do? Fred and Rose West murdered, tortured and sexual assaulted at least 12 young women and girls between the years of 1967 and 1987, but the actual number of their victims is not known. Most of Fred and Rose's crimes took place at their home in Gloucester, 25 Cromwell Street, which has become known as the 'House of Horrors' and has became somewhat of a novelty. Who were their victims? Fred and Rose West are confirmed to have committed at least 12 murders between 1967 and 1987. However it is thought there are other victims whose bodies have never been uncovered. Fred is known to have murdered two people on his own and Rose was jointly convicted of an additional ten murders in 1995 alongside Fred. Here are the victims Fred and Rose were charged with murdering and their ages. Fred West solo murders: Anne McFall, 18 Catherine "Rena" Costello, 27 Fred and Rose West were jointly charged with the following murders: Charmaine West, 8 Carol Ann Cooper, 15 Lynda Gough, 19 Juanita Mott, 18 Lucy Partington, 21 Shirley Hubbard, 15 Thérèse Siegenthaler, 21 Shirley Robinson, 18 Alison Chambers, 16 Heather West, 16 What happened to Fred and Rose West? Fred and Rose were arrested in 1994 following a major police investigation which was launched into the disappearance of their own daughter, Heather West. On February 23, 1994, cops obtained a warrant to search their garden and the following day on February 24, Fred West was arrested, followed by Rose's arrest on February 25 on suspicion of murdering Heather. Further searches at their home led to the grim discovery of multiple bodies, which revealed their series of heinous crimes committed over two decades. Fred West was formally charged with 12 counts of murder and took his own life in prison in 1995 while awaiting trail. Meanwhile, Rose West was convicted of 10 murders and is serving life in prison without the possibility of parole. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Scotsman
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Is Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story a true story?
Netflix has released a limited series about Fred and Rose West 📺 Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Netflix has released a documentary on serial killers Fred and Rose West. The limited series arrived on streaming today (May 14). But is it based on a true story? Netflix has shined a spotlight on Fred and Rose West in a new limited series. Dubbed 'A British Horror Story' it is the streamer's latest splashy documentary show. It follows other previous programmes about other infamous UK figures - like Jimmy Saville and the Yorkshire Ripper. All of the episodes arrived on the streaming service today (May 14). Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But is it based on a true story? Here's all you need to know: When was Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story released? Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story | Netflix The full limited series arrived on Netflix this morning (May 14). It began streaming at 8am and all of the episodes were released at that time. How many episodes are in the limited series? The documentary features three episodes in total - and each have runtimes between 47 minutes and 57 minutes. It runs for just over two and a half hours in total. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Is Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story based on a true story? It is a limited documentary series and recounts the events around the real life serial killers Fred and Rose West. The show features people talking about their memories from the time - as well as archival footage. The synopsis via Netflix reads: 'Fred & Rose West: A British Horror Story is a definitive documentary series revealing the lives and crimes of Britain's most notorious and prolific husband and wife serial killers. 'With exclusive access to previously unseen police video and unheard audio recordings, the three part series will show how the Gloucestershire police were able to unearth the remains of the West's 12 victims to build a case against them that would bring closure for the families of the victims. 'The series features family members of some of the victims - a few of whom are speaking for the first time - giving insight into the pain and torment they went through for decades. From discovering that their missing loved ones were brutally murdered, to the trauma they experienced and the strength they displayed during the trial.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Netflix fans gasp 'the Americans aren't ready for this' as streamer drops first trailer for Fred and Rose West documentary - with look inside their 'house of horrors'
Netflix fans have warned 'the Americans aren't ready for this' after the streamer dropped the first trailer for its Fred and Rose West documentary, about the pair's 'house of horrors'. Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, set for release on the platform on May 14, will delve into the lives of Britain's most notorious and prolific pair of serial killers. The three-part series will detail how the couple tortured, raped and murdered at least twelve young women in Gloucester between 1967 and 1987 - including their daughter Heather, 16, and Rose's stepdaughter Charmaine, eight. Rose, 71, is currently serving a life sentence after being found guilty in 1995 of murdering ten girls and women - but Fred, then 53, hanged himself in his remand cell in January of that year before facing trial for 12 murders. Their home at 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester became known as their 'house of horrors' after police found nine bodies there before the couple's arrest in 1994 - and later found three more elsewhere. Netflix fans think American viewers are not ready to hear about the true atrocities of what the platform has dubbed A British Horror Story, taking to the comments section of the trailer on YouTube to warn stateside streamers. The three-part series will detail how the couple tortured, raped and murdered at least twelve young women in Gloucester between 1967 and 1987 - including their daughter Heather, 16, and Rose's stepdaughter Charmaine, eight. Pictured: Rose West The new documentary, one of several on the case over the years, is set to be especially heartbreaking as it will focus on the victims' families. For some, it will be the first time they have spoken out and opened up on camera about their trauma. One YouTube commenter said: 'Oh dear, the Americans aren't ready for this. 'I'm from Britain and Fred and Rose West, what they did is beyond terrifying and worse than any other horror film, like beyond dark. Be warned.' Another agreed: 'Dear God, Americans are going to have so many heart attacks when they see this. 'My mum remembers them getting arrested and Rose is still held in a women's prison near where I live.' Someone else warned: 'This is the kind of horrific story that will stick with you. 'Still so surprised not too many people know about it, especially in America.' Netflix fans think American viewers are not ready to hear about the true atrocities of what the platform has dubbed A British Horror Story, taking to the comments section (pictured) of the trailer on YouTube to warn stateside streamers One user, seemingly not British, said: 'Finally, there really haven't been enough documentaries about it. 'British killers are never talked about here so it'll be chilling as all hell.' Another said: 'I've seen the doc about Rose only. I don't think a crime documentary has scared me so much. 'A lot of people don't seem to know about these two, at least outside the UK. It's terrifying.' The three-part series, directed by Dan Dewsbury, will look into exactly how Gloucestershire police officers unearthed the remains of the couple's victims and collected evidence against them. The first instalment, called Fred, will zoom in on the moment Fred West was taken into custody and questioned about his missing daughter. The second, named Rose, is set to explore the pair's 'dark, twisted relationship' and how police realised Fred did not commit the heinous crimes alone. And the third, called The Trial, will look at the additional evidence that emerged to further implicate Rose in the case. The new documentary, one of several on the case over the years, is set to be especially heartbreaking as it will focus on the victims' families For some, it will be the first time they have spoken out and opened up on camera about their trauma The three-part series, directed by Dan Dewsbury, will look into exactly how Gloucestershire police officers unearthed the remains of the couple's victims and collected evidence against them The first instalment, called 'Fred', will zoom in on the moment Fred West was taken into custody and questioned about his missing daughter The second, named 'Rose', is set to explore the pair's 'dark, twisted relationship' and how police realised Fred did not commit the heinous crimes alone And the third, called 'The Trial', will look at the additional evidence that emerged to further implicate Rose in the case The show will feature previously unseen police video footage and audio recordings - providing a deeper look into the case than ever seen in various other programmes made about it over the years The trailer, released on YouTube last month, offered a sneak peek into the documentary series The show will feature previously unseen police video footage and audio recordings - providing a deeper look into the case than ever seen in various other programmes made about it over the years. The trailer, released on YouTube last month, offered a sneak peek into the documentary series. But many commenters on the site said at the time they were exasperated by the platform making yet another true crime programme. One penned: 'Anybody else tired of this true crime crap?' Another added: 'I have no idea why people enjoy watching sick things like this. Someone please enlighten me how you get joy from watching this?' Someone else simply said: 'I'll pass.' Others felt uncomfortable about the idea the documentary would be profiting off making content about such heinous crimes. Others (pictured) felt uncomfortable about the idea the documentary would be profiting off making content about such heinous crimes Another added: 'Is there only me who feels like this shouldn't be made?' It comes after another heartbreaking Netflix true crime documentary surged to the top of the charts last month - knocking smash hit show Adolescence off the top spot. Stephen Graham's four-part series Adolescence reached an eye-watering 24.3million views in just four days after its release and has received rave reviews since. Adolescence follows the story of a young boy called Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), who is accused of stabbing his female classmate Katie (Emilia Holliday) to death. But it was overtaken early last month by Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer. The new crime docuseries consists of three episodes and looks at the stories of missing women whose remains were found near Gilgo Beach on Long Island in New York.
