King Charles III, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Londoners united on Monday to mark 20 years since the deadly 7/7 terrorist attacks that shook the British capital. The 2005 bombings killed 52 people and injured over 770 during the morning rush hour, leaving a lasting scar on the city’s history.
At exactly 8:50 a.m.—the moment the first explosion occurred—wreaths were laid at Hyde Park’s 7/7 memorial, where 52 steel columns stand in memory of the victims. Prime Minister Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan observed a minute of silence, joined by subway staff and commuters across affected stations.
King Charles III released a heartfelt message, expressing his prayers for all lives changed on that “terrible summer’s day.” He praised the bravery of emergency responders and ordinary citizens, highlighting their courage and compassion in the face of horror. The King also urged unity, calling for mutual respect among all communities.
Dan Biddle, a survivor who lost both legs in the Edgware Road blast, spoke of his mixed emotions. He recalled the heroic efforts of a fellow passenger who gave life-saving aid in the dark tunnel. Biddle also voiced frustration over the lack of a full public inquiry into the attacks, saying unanswered questions remain.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the day as one of Britain’s “darkest.” She warned that Islamist extremism still poses the biggest threat, alongside rising far-right violence and emerging cyber and hybrid threats. The government, she stressed, remains firm in defending national security.
In his message, Starmer emphasized the nation’s resilience. “Those who tried to divide us failed,” he said. “We stood together then, and we stand together now.”