LONDON BOMBINGS - JULY 2005

52 innocent people were killed and hundreds were injured in a series of terror bombings in central London during rush-hour on the morning of the 7th of July 2005. The terrorist incidents occurred in an underground train travelling between Moorgate and Aldgate East, on another underground train travelling between King's Cross and Russell Square, in a carriage at Edgware Road tube station and on the upper deck of a number 30 bus at Upper Woburn Place. The three explosions on the underground trains occurred simultaneously at 9.50am and the incident on the double decker bus occurred less than an hour later at 10.47am. Local hospitals reported that in excess of 350 people received immediate treatment, with over 100 people being detained in hospital overnight amongst whom over 20 people had suffered from serious injuries and were on the critical list.

At least two terrorist groups have claimed for responsibility for the attack including the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigades whose name evokes the alias of Mohammed Atef, Osama bin Laden's top deputy who was killed in a US airstrike in Afghanistan in November 2001 and a previously unknown group calling themselves the "Secret Group of al Qaeda's Jihad in Europe," has also claimed responsibility for the London bombings in a website announcement however police are sceptical as to whether or not either group was involved. Experts say that neither group that has claimed responsibility for the events has a proven track record of attacks and it was unlikely that either played a role. Intelligence and anti-terrorist officials do however say that there is little doubt that a group affiliated to or inspired by al Qaeda had planted the London bomb devices.

Police have identified three British Muslims of Pakistani ethnicity and a Jamaican born Muslim convert as the suicide bombers who carried explosive devices in rucksacks aboard three underground trains and a bus. Armed police raided a number of addresses in West Yorkshire on the 12th of July and found explosives in one of the premises and in a car used by the bombers which was left in a car park in Luton. Further raids were carried out on the 13th of July at premises in Aylesbury. The four suicide bombers identities have been confirmed as Germaine Lindsay, Shehzad Tanweer, Hasib Mir Hussain and Mohammed Sadique Khan.

On the 21st of July 2005 there were four further attempts to cause explosions on three London underground trains and on a London bus. Minor explosions occurred, causing no injuries, which the police have indicated were caused by detonators which failed to ignite the main explosive charges carried by each of the bombers who subsequently escaped on foot. It is believed that a fifth potential bomber failed to detonate his device which was later found abandoned. Five men are now in Police custody in regards to ongoing enquiries.

The Metroplitan Police have made a public appeal for any photographs taken in the area of any of the bombings or attempted bombings either shortly before or immediately after the attacks, on cameras or mobile phones, to send them in digital form to images@met.police.uk or to call the Anti Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321 whereupon arrangements will be made to collect them.

Acts of terrorism are covered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) scheme and compensation payments for both physical and psychological injuries will be assessed using the CICA tariff table which allocates individual injuries with a particular value. These claims may involve multiple physical and psychological injuries and compensation is awarded for the three most serious injuries with the second and third most serious injury being discounted by a fixed percentage before aggregation of the three sums to calculate the value of the final award. The dependents of anyone who was killed in the incidents can also usually claim compensation.