Six years ago today was 7th July 2005, or more famously known now as 7/7. As most people will know and if you don’t know how can’t you? Six Years ago four bombs were set off by a set of suicide bombers on the London Transport System, three of them were on various routes on the underground and the fourth was set off on the top deck of a bus. This attack killed 50+ people including the bombers and injured loads more. It was the worse attack to be seen in London.
I along with most people can probably remember exactly where they were when they heard the news break. For me it was a very surreal experience hearing about the bombs for the first time. I was at the time in Cornwall Connecticut. Me and my parents the night before were happy when the waitress in the restaurant told us that London had got the 2012 Olympics. The main reason I was happy about this was that it proved my Dad wrong whom had reckoned that they were going to go to either Paris or New York. In the morning we had been down for breakfast, I had finished so decided to go back to the hotel room to watch TV whilst I waited for my parents. Which is something I have done often whilst on holiday then and before. Little did I know that watching TV that day was going to be like no other.
I was sat on the bed watching Regis & Kelly when it came up with “sorry to interrupt this programme for an important news bulletin” at this point I remember thinking OMG what has happened in America now. When it came up with images of the bombed London Bus saying that four bombs had gone off on the London Transport System, I just couldn’t believe it. Without hesitation I jumped up started running for the door, then had to retreat as I realised I had forgotten the key. Ran faster than I think I have ever in my life, called the lift (which seemed extremely slow to get to me, and even slower to get to the ground floor) and then ran to where my parents were still have breakfast. Apparently my dad could see me coming and according to him he said that I looked mad and like I was on a mission. Which to be fair both were probably correct. Once I told my parents the news we all dashed back to the room to listen to the news.
My dad was determined though that it was not going to ruin our holiday, so we headed out to Mistick, I will never forget seeing both the American Flag and Union Jack flying underneath each other at half mass. In the evening we had food in the restaurant back at the hotel, my Mum couldn’t eat hers just because she was not feeling well and was nothing to do with the days events. However we believe that the Hotel thought it was and actually didn’t charge us for my mum’s meal.
To be honest I think the most surreal part of my trip to America six years ago was the fact we headed to New York on the 8th July, basically the day after. Everyone in Connecticut and New York were so lovely, but obviously more so in New York. We had people asking us if we had been in contact with our family and friends to make sure they were all ok, thus proving that Americans think that the whole of England is in London. Got asked if we knew of anyone whom was there. One person even asked me if I had been there. I don’t think that guy was right in the head somehow. Everyone kept telling us that their thoughts were with London, and kept making out that it was as big was 911. Which was unbelievable how they were comparing them as being on the same level when over 2000 were killed in 911 and 1000s more injured along with the 2 tallest buildings in America collapsing to the ground. Where 50+ people died in London, and 100s injured. It doesn’t mean that either of them should have happened. No one should have been killed on either of those days. Not even the bombers, killing yourself is the cowedly way out. What Justice is that, for all those innocent people whom died and were injured in those events. To think that those people did exactly what they intended to do by killing themselves and the people around them none.
It was really moving to see to the extent that New York were thinking about London. Me and my parents went to visit Ground Zero which was about 5 minute walk from our Hotel. There was a huge sign attached to the railings saying New York, London Sister Cities Our Sympathies Are With You, and all you could see was people signing it.
I will never forget my one and only trip to America and definitely Connecticut and New York, being in New York at that time did open my eyes more to how strongly upset they were over 911 and how it would be apart of those people for the rest of their lifes.
I remember telling me that no one we knew would be effected because we lived in the North of England 100s of miles from London. Yes that statement was correct. But I was in for the shock of my life on returning home. I think it was the day after we got back so about the 13th July that one of my School mates was holding a party around at hers to celebrate us finishing our GCSEs and thus our High School education. Just before I was about to leave for the party I remember getting a phone call, it was a reporter from the Yorkshire Post. Wanting to know if I knew anything about Germaine Lindsay one of the suicide bombers. I was a bit confused to why they were phoning me. So I asked why he thought I would know anything about him, and got haven’t you heard the news. Which with being in America for 5 out of the 6 days since the incident happened I hadn’t heard anything. It turned out that Germaine Lindsay had attended the same High School that I had attended. He was three years ahead of me, so I didn’t know anything about the guy. But the Shock that I had actually attended the same school breathed the same air, walked down the same coridoors, creeped me out then now and will for the rest of my life.
bethienoodles 