London - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
Two decades after the July 7 bombings that killed 52 people, Britain commemorated the anniversary with silent ceremonies and official messages affirming its commitment to unity in the face of terrorism.
According to European media reports, the British capital, London, on Monday commemorated the twentieth anniversary of the attacks that targeted the public transport system on July 7, 2005, killing 52 people and wounding more than 770 others during the morning rush hour. According to the Brussels-based Euronews website, the attacks, carried out by four suicide bombers and targeting three subway trains and a double-decker bus, are the deadliest on British soil since the Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie in 1988, and the first suicide attack carried out by Islamists in the United Kingdom. Commemoration Ceremonies in London
Across the capital, memorial services included a minute's silence, wreath-laying, and tributes to the victims, survivors, and first responders. The memorial in Hyde Park, where 52 steel columns stand in tribute to each victim, hosted an event attended by survivors, families, and officials.
At 8:50 a.m., the time of the first explosion, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and London Mayor Sadiq Khan laid wreaths at the memorial. Passengers and staff at the stations targeted also observed a minute's silence in memory of the victims.
Dan Biddle, who lost both his legs in an explosion near Edgware Road station, said his feelings of grief and resilience were with him on this day, noting the "great injustice" of the lack of a comprehensive public inquiry into the case. He recalled what he called the "heroic act" of an injured passenger who crawled through the tunnel to provide first aid. At St. Paul's Cathedral, a memorial service with prayers and music was held to honor the victims and express the spirit of unity that followed the attacks.
In a message, King Charles III affirmed that his "heartfelt thoughts and prayers remain with all those whose lives were forever changed on that terrible summer day," praising the "extraordinary courage and compassion" shown by citizens and emergency workers.
Starmer said, "Those who tried to divide us have failed. We stood together then, and we stand together now."
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the day as "one of Britain's darkest days," noting that "the threat of terrorism remains, whether from Islamist extremists, the far right, hostile states, or cyber threats," stressing that the government "will confront them relentlessly."
The attacks were carried out by four suicide bombers, three of whom were British-born and of Pakistani descent, while the fourth was from Jamaica. In the same context, Switzerland has brought terrorism charges against a Kosovar citizen and a dual national, including supporting ISIS, money laundering, and bribery. They have been detained since 2022, and the case will be referred to the Federal Court, emphasizing the presumption of innocence.
The Swiss Federal Prosecutor announced on Monday that a Kosovar citizen and a Swiss citizen of Macedonian origin with dual nationality have been charged with terrorism and spreading the ideology of the Islamic State (ISIS).
The Swiss Attorney General's Office reported that the two suspects, aged 36 and 33, are believed to have provided financial support and recruitment to a Swiss branch of a "Kosovo terrorist organization," particularly in the Geneva area, over the past decade.
The two men were arrested in September 2022 as part of an investigation into their alleged support for ISIS. Investigations indicate that the defendants attempted to spread Salafi-jihadist ideology with the aim of destabilizing Kosovo and establishing so-called Sharia law there. On Monday, the Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office filed additional charges against the suspects, including participation in a terrorist group, money laundering, and bribery of public officials.
The two suspects are also accused of illegally exploiting certain social benefits in Switzerland, according to the prosecution.
The case will be transferred to the Federal Criminal Court, where the defendants are presumed innocent under Swiss law until a final verdict is issued.
It is worth noting that Switzerland, which adheres to a traditional policy of neutrality that keeps it away from conflicts, has largely succeeded in avoiding the violent extremism that has occurred in other parts of Europe and the world in recent decades.