Londoners mark July 7 bombings anniversary

London, Jul 7: Thousands of people gathered at King's Cross station here on Monday, July 7 to commemorate those killed in the city's 7/7 bombings of 2005.

Commuters stood with survivors and victims' families to pay their respects to the 52 people who died in the blasts. The city's Mayor Boris Johnson and the Minister for London Tessa Jowell laid flowers outside the station at 0850 hrs (local time), precisely the time of the first blast, the Daily Telegraph reported.Mr Johnson placed a memorial card which read, ''We honour the memory of those who died on 7/7, 2005. We salute the courage of those who were injured and our thoughts and prayers are with all victims and their families.'' Speaking at the memorial, Ms Jowell said, ''People have shown great courage in the progress they have made in moving forward with their lives since the atrocities of three years ago.'' The streets around King's Cross, from where the four suicide bombers set off on their terror campaign, were crammed as commuters paid their respect to the dead.

One Daniel Obachike, who lost his best friend Christian Njoya-Diawara Small in the attacks, said, ''It was a low-key ceremony and there are many of us who believe more could have been done in the aftermath.'' He added, ''I suppose it is of some consolation that figureheads have arrived to recognise us. I was with Christian the morning before he died, and obviously today feels particularly poignant.'' Rev Kevin McGarhan, who helped the rescue efforts three years ago, said, ''The wounds of grief are still wide open.

Understandably, there was a lot of tension today but it's so important that we do not allow the terrorists to win.'' Friends and relatives of the victims made personal visits to the sites of the four blasts -- Russell Square, Aldgate and Edgware Road Tube stations and Tavistock square.

UNI