Emily Atack and her mum Kate Robbins reveal they ran ‘nonstop’ from 7/7 bombings and heard bus blast as they pay tribute on 15th anniversary of attacks
Emily Atack’s mother Kate Robins has described how they were forced to run for two miles to safety on the day of the London 7/7 bombings.
Actress and singer Kate, 57, tweeted on Tuesday, the 15th anniversary of the 2005 attacks which killed 52 people and injured over 700 in four suicide bombs detonated across the capital.
Describing how she and Emily, who was 15 at the time, were emerging from King’s Cross tube station, Kate said police told them to run.
Reflecting: Emily Atack’s mother Kate Robins has described how they were forced to run for two miles to safety on the day of the London 7/7 bombings
’15 yrs ago- Emerging from Kings Cross tube with 15 yr old @EmAtack , the police yelled ‘Run!’ Kate tweeted.
She said they heard the fourth bomb on a bus in Tavistock Square go off as they ran. ‘Along with hundreds of others we ran non-stop from KingsX to Soho. We heard the bus bomb as we ran.
‘Remembering the 52 souls who lost their lives today. #londonbombings NEVER FORGET.’ Emily retweeted her mum’s message, adding a heart emoji.
Tribute: Actress and singer Kate tweeted on Tuesday, the 15th anniversary of the 2005 attacks which killed 52 people and injured over 700 in four suicide bombs
Tube trains at Edgware Road, Aldgate and Russell Square were hit by explosions on July 7, 2005 during the busy morning rush hour.
An hour after the first blasts, a bomb was also detonated on a bus at Tavistock Square.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick laid wreaths at the 7/7 memorial in Hyde Park at 8.50am on Tuesday morning – the time of the first bomb.
A message on the wreath laid by Mr Khan said: ‘Fifteen years have passed, but the 52 innocent people who lost their lives on 7/7 remain in our hearts.
Attack: Describing how she and Emily, who was 15 at the time, were emerging from King’s Cross tube station, Kate said police told them to run
Rembering: Emily retweeted her mum’s message, adding a heart emoji
‘Those who seek to divide our communities and destroy our way of life will never, ever, succeed.’
Dame Cressida paid tribute to the people ‘cruelly snatched away’ as well as survivors whose lives were ‘turned upside down’ by injuries.
‘Those we lost represented the best of our city – diverse, strong, wonderful people,’ she said.
Memorial: Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick laid wreaths at the 7/7 memorial in Hyde Park at 8.50am on Tuesday morning
‘As a city, London was not bowed, we came together, we supported each other and we have continued to fight the scourge of terrorism ever since.
‘Today, I think also of my officers and staff who ran towards those terrible scenes. Who put themselves in danger and tried to do their best to support those affected.
‘On behalf of everybody in the Metropolitan Police Service, we will not forget.’
In a video message, the Prince of Wales offered his thoughts: ‘For all of us today is an occasion to remember those who were so tragically lost and to stand with those who were left behind.
‘It is also an opportunity to reaffirm our shared determination that tolerance and compassion will triumph over division and hatred, and that hope will always prevail.’
Never forget: Dame Cressida paid tribute to the people ‘cruelly snatched away’ as well as survivors whose lives were ‘turned upside down’ by injuries