Sawt Falasteen - Victims of London 7/7 attacks remembered as king hails 'spirit of unity'

To mark the moment the first bomb went off 20 years ago Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan laid wreaths at the July 7 memorial in the capital's Hyde Park at 8:50 am (0750 GMT).

On July 7, 2005, four homegrown Islamist extremists detonated suicide bombs on three underground trains and a bus across central London, killing dozens and injuring hundreds more.

The king's brother Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, and his wife Sophie attended a national service of commemoration at St Paul's, along with Starmer and the mayor.

They were joined by survivors, bereaved relatives and emergency services personnel on duty at the time of the attacks.

In a statement to mark the anniversary, the king urged people to draw on the "extraordinary courage and compassion" shown following the attack.

"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," he said in the statement published by the domestic Press Association news agency.

"In doing so, we should also remember the countless stories of extraordinary courage and compassion that emerged from the darkness of that day," he said.

"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," he added.

- Searing memory -

Daniel Biddle, who was 26 when he lost both legs and his left eye, recalled the moment he saw one of the bombers prepare to detonate his explosive just after their train pulled out of Edgware Road station.

"I saw the guy lean forward and look along the carriage," he told BBC radio.

"I was just about to ask him what he was staring at, what his problem was, then he reached for his bag and there was a brilliant white light. That's a face seared into my mind," he said.

Biddle said the 20th anniversary would be "one of those days where you're thankful you've survived it".

But he said he still felt "immense sadness and grief" at the suffering the four suicide bombers had inflicted.

"I feel like I'm living the life sentence of the men that should be serving," he said.

Other bombs went off on London's underground train network near Aldgate station and King's Cross station.

An hour after the first explosion, a fourth bomb exploded on the top deck of a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square.

Starmer said the bombers had tried to divide the nation but 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."

Charles added that "while the horrors will never be forgotten", the country "may take comfort from the way such events rally communities together".

"It is this spirit of unity that has helped London, and our nation, to heal," he said.

Tony Blair, who was prime minister during the 7/7 bombings, said the UK was safer in the years since the attacks.

"We're a lot safer from terrorism because the security services have a very good system in place," he said.

"But there will be a problem as long as the ideology exists."

Speaking ahead of the anniversary, interior minister Yvette Cooper also warned that Islamist and right-wing extremism remained the country's most significant threats.

M.Qasim--SF-PST