7/7 - one year on.

[bad_roo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/h...ms/default.stm

Just a quick message to keep in your hearts today the memory of the 52 innocent people who died on this day last year as they were going to work in central London. Take a look at the people above, the sort of people who make London the young, vibrant, multicultural city it is: one that closed minds and warped religious fanatics will never be able to understand or embrace.

It was a tough day for many of the London mags and one that I hope we never repeat, although that sadly seems unlikely.

The day had all sorts of strange effects. One day I hope to be able to take Mrs Roo heliskiing so that she associates the sound of a heli with something purer and happier than dismembered bodies being dragged out of underground stations.

RIP.

[edg]

I think there was a deep symbolism, if accidental, in the TV coverage the BBC just gave for the remembrance. Despite the groups of people standing silent in remembrance, around them London continued to buzz, and I don't think that is in any way offensive to the memory of those who died. Instead it shows that London will not be terrified into stopping by the acts of extremists, whether they be Christian, Muslim or of any other faith.

RIP.

edg

[bklyn]

RIP
......

[Hayduke]

Tottenham Ct Road was mostly silent.

RIP

[shera]

I'll think on this today. I like what you said about London.

[Mr.Scruff]

One of the worst days of my life, trying to get hold of my dad, turned out he decided to walk to Tavistock Sq.

[H-man]

Rest in Peace

[Dug]

RIP.

Family and friends there at the time. The stories.

[Sutter]

I was in London about three weeks after the attacks. Everyone here in the States told me to not ride the Tube, stay off the buses, but as soon as I got there late on a Saturday night, I went out and met a bunch of Londoners who were all very cool and opinionated.

Everywhere I went the next day, from the Tate Modern to Clerkenwell, I saw a city thriving and just as alive as I had remembered it from before. I rode the Tube, rode the buses and respected the city for being so resilient and positive after a massive horror. RIP to all, their memory lives on in the spirit of the people.

[4matic]

I did not know her but we lost a work colleague. Benedetta Ciaccia. Never forget.

[lemon boy]

RIP

[mr_gyptian]

RIP to the above pictured victims.


I hope the below linked fuckers rot.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/...ive_detai.html

[Mr.Scruff]

I hope the below linked fuckers rot.

Nothing left of the bombers to rot

[beaterdit]

I heard a piece on the radio this morning with the boyfriend of one of the deceased. He was talking to her on her cell phone when the bomb went off and she went silent. I had tears in my eyes listening to this guy. Tragic.
RIP.

[Tippster]

Everywhere I went the next day, from the Tate Modern to Clerkenwell, I saw a city thriving and just as alive as I had remembered it from before. I rode the Tube, rode the buses and respected the city for being so resilient and positive after a massive horror...

The Brits actually meant it when they said they didn't want the terrorists to win. I guess after the Blitz a Nation remembers how to stand tall in the face of threats, not lash out in fear.

RIP to those lost, and Kudos to the stiff upper lip.

[PNWbrit]

That was the only day I've ever felt homesick.

Ken Livingstone London's Mayor summed it up perfectly:

“This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful; it is not aimed at presidents or prime ministers; it was aimed at ordinary working class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christians, Hindu and Jew, young and old, indiscriminate attempt at slaughter irrespective of any considerations, of age, of class, of religion, whatever, that isn’t an ideology, it isn’t even a perverted faith, it’s just indiscriminate attempt at mass murder, and we know what the objective is, they seek to divide London. They seek to turn Londoners against each other and Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack,” said Mr Livingston…

“I wish to speak through you directly, to those who came to London to claim lives, nothing you do, how many of us you kill will stop that flight to our cities where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another, whatever you do, how many you kill, you will fail.”

[Monique]

That was the only day I've ever felt homesick.

Ken Livingstone London's Mayor summed it up perfectly:

“This was not a terrorist attack against the mighty and the powerful; it is not aimed at presidents or prime ministers; it was aimed at ordinary working class Londoners, black and white, Muslim and Christians, Hindu and Jew, young and old, indiscriminate attempt at slaughter irrespective of any considerations, of age, of class, of religion, whatever, that isn’t an ideology, it isn’t even a perverted faith, it’s just indiscriminate attempt at mass murder, and we know what the objective is, they seek to divide London. They seek to turn Londoners against each other and Londoners will not be divided by this cowardly attack,” said Mr Livingston…

“I wish to speak through you directly, to those who came to London to claim lives, nothing you do, how many of us you kill will stop that flight to our cities where freedom is strong and where people can live in harmony with one another, whatever you do, how many you kill, you will fail.”

What a great statement and what a sad "anniversary."

[Art Shirk]

I used to live at Russell Square and used that stop numerous times a day. Very tragic and somewhat close to home, thanks for the post.

[buckethead]

thanks for the reminder, bad_roo. i knew it was last summer, but had forgotten the date..
i remember checking in with londoners i know through other online communities...good time to check in and send my (belated) condolences on this sad anniversary.

it's also a good time to think about the innocent brazilian engineer (who's name i forget) who was gunned down by british police on a train a few days after the bombing...senseless killing begets more of the same, and i guess that's the idea

[DisArray]

Silly terrorists. Shame on them.

[truth]

RIP...to all of the souls lost in this wave of hatred.

[stomp]

my dad's from walton upon thames.. he was traveling into london from paris on a train that day for a business meeting and wound up in the middle of this mayhem. everything was at a standstill and since he couldn't get anywhere he just planted himself at a downtown pub. he said loved how strong the londoners were in the face of adversity. london has seen an awful lot of shit go down over the years and he said the stiff upper lip was definitely in play at the pub that day.

rip to the lost and strength and good wishes to their family & friends.

[Benny Profane]

Seeing those pix reminds me of the small flyers and posters posted by loved ones searching for the missing around Manhattan for a month or two after 911, mostly around hospitals. Saddest thing in the world, because, like many above, so many were so young and alive.

[Mrs Roo]

Thanks Andy for starting this thread. I couldn't quite bring myself to do it on Friday. It was a strange day.

As some of you may remember my hospital (National Hospital for Neurology) and Great Ormond Street Childrens hospital are a stones throw from Russell square. They sent out teams of anaethetists and surgeons to treat the casualties as they were brought up. The porters and the therapists (my colleagues) had to run out to take medical supplies to the treating teams, needles, fluids etc.

Many of us were pretty traumatised on the day but reflecting back a year on it was so surreal. I don't associate the blood soaked floor of Russell Square station with the same place I catch my tube home every day since. Thank goodness our memories fade.

There was a memorial service outside the hospital which was attended by the family of Elizabeth Daplyn, our colleague who died in the attacks. Also one of our lead researhcers, Professor Patsalos, made a dignified appearance after suffering traumatic limb amputation. Both were on the Kings Cross/Russell square train. It was a quietly emotional service that was ironically disturbed by the sound of a circling helicopter, one of my enduring memories of the day itself.

London is a crazy, resilient, mad, wonderful, frustrating, endearing, fascinating, beautiful, ugly, inspiring, exciting place. I love it. How dare those bastards soil it. Fuck them and fuck the next wave of zealots who will undoubtedly have another pot shot.

They won't win.