Leeds Remembers The 7/7 Bombings

Leeds reflects on the 7/7 bombings

Published 6th Jul 2015

People across Leeds and the whole country stopped today to remember the 52 killed and 700 injured in the 7/7 bombings.

It's ten years since four men from West Yorkshire - three from Leeds - blew themselves up in London.

Mohammed Sidique Khan and Shehzad Tanweer both grew up in Beeston, while Hassib Hussain was from Holbeck.

The three men travelled from Leeds and, with a fourth man Germaine Lindsay, detonated bombs across the transport system in London.

A group of young people decided to re-trace their steps, from Leeds to London, but to share a message of hope - not hate.

Leeds Citizens is made up of people of all faiths, to promote acceptance of others beliefs.

Meanwhile the families of these men are still looking for answers 10 years on, an imam has said.

Qari Asim - who's part of Leeds Citizens - said the community was left in shock and disbelief'' after discovering the suicide bombers were from the our region.

And the imam of the Makkah Mosque in Leeds said questions were still being asked over how three seemingly ordinary, friendly young men could carry out such atrocities.

Mr Asim, whose mosque is in the Hyde Park area of Leeds, said: I didn't know the three perpetrators, who came from Leeds and committed the atrocities on 7/7, but I have known the families and everyone that knew those three young men, they were saying they were like ordinary young men, they were gentlemen, they were good to talk to, they were very friendly people effectively.

And I think that's the key challenge that makes it even worse for the Muslim community and the ordinary British citizens, how can three young men, living their ordinary lives, become so radicalised? Can be so motivated that they can take their own lives but also take the lives of others?''

Mr Asim said communities in Leeds came together following the bombings to sendout the message that they would not be defeated by terrorists.

7/7 was a particularly horrible day for people of Leeds. When we heard the news that the perpetrators had come from Leeds we were in a complete sense of shock and disbelief. Never in a million years did we think that something like that would happen on our soil, in our country.

But I'm really pleased to say the communities really came together and I think they came together because they did not want the terrorists to win.'"

People will mark the day all over the country.

This morning, the survivors and families of victims visited the bombing sites around London and David Cameron and Boris Johnson laid a wreath in Hyde Park in the capital. A memorial service takes place there at 2.30pm.

Here in Leeds, at 11 this morning a service was held at Leeds Civic Hall before the nation fell silent for a minutes silence.

Tonight at 7.30pm Leeds residents, members of Leeds City Council and Leeds Citizens will gather at Elland Road to pay their tributes.