The Hindu : International : Europe pays silent homage to victims

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 15, 2005

International

International

Europe pays silent homage to victims

Hasan Suroor

Poignant scenes as hundreds gather at sites of the bombings

— PHOTO: AP

FACE OF TERROR: Hasib Hussain, suspected suicide bomber who blew up a double-decker bus in London on July 7 is seen in this image released by police on Thursday.

LONDON: In an unprecedented show of solidarity with Britain, millions of people across Europe observed a two-minute silence on Thursday in memory of the victims of last week's London train bombings as Prince Charles urged "every true Muslim'' to help root out extremists from their midst and police said they were looking for several more suspects, besides the four men of Pakistani origin already identified.

In London, there were poignant scenes at the sites of the bombings as hundreds of people gathered outside King's Cross, Liverpool and Edgware tube stations and at Tavistock Square where a bomb had exploded on a double-decker bus in last Thursday's orgy of violence.

Before joining the silence, the driver of the ill-fated bus read out a "message to the terrorists — you will not defeat us and you will not break us.''

Families and friends of the victims wept and prayed quietly reflecting on how their world had changed in the past week. They placed wreaths and messages at the make-shift memorials which have sprung up on bombing sites. London Mayor Ken Livingstone joined faith leaders at Trafalgar Square still remembered for scenes of jubilation after London won the bid to host 2012 Olympics, just hours before the terrorist attacks.

"This city has survived the past week because we didn't turn on each other, which is what the bombers wanted. We supported each other," Mr Livingstone said.

At the stroke of 12 noon — exactly seven days after the attacks — a hushed silence fell over Britain and much of mainland Europe as people instinctively stopped work in a collective tribute to the victims. They stood with their heads bowed, while buses, taxis and private vehicles came to a halt and businesses suspended transactions for two minutes. Television channels ran visuals of the event without the audio.

The Queen observed the ceremony at Buckingham Palace and Prime Minister Tony Blair led the tributes at Downing Street.

In Muslim areas, women wearing hijabs displayed placards condemning terrorists and declaring: "Not in our name''. Muslims came out in large numbers to express their "shock'' and "revulsion'' at the attacks.

Meanwhile, the media named the fourth suspect as Ejaz Faiz, believed to be in his 30s.

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