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| Anger over 7/7 inquest 'insult' | Anger over 7/7 inquest 'insult' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Families of 7/7 victims have expressed fury after the suicide attackers were called "apparent bombers" in court. | |
| The hearing, at the Royal Courts of Justice, was to decide how coroners' inquests into deaths from the 2005 Tube and bus bombings should proceed. | The hearing, at the Royal Courts of Justice, was to decide how coroners' inquests into deaths from the 2005 Tube and bus bombings should proceed. |
| But bereaved relations took offence when Hugo Keith QC used the phrase "apparent" to describe the attackers. He later apologised for the distress. | |
| Ernest Adams, whose son was killed, said it was "upsetting and insulting". | Ernest Adams, whose son was killed, said it was "upsetting and insulting". |
| James Adams, 32, a mortgage broker from Cambridgeshire, was among 26 killed by Jermaine Lindsay, 19, on a Tube between King's Cross and Russell Square. | James Adams, 32, a mortgage broker from Cambridgeshire, was among 26 killed by Jermaine Lindsay, 19, on a Tube between King's Cross and Russell Square. |
| 'Apparent bombers' just does not rest easily with me Hazel Webb, bereaved mother | 'Apparent bombers' just does not rest easily with me Hazel Webb, bereaved mother |
| His father Mr Adams, 72, stood up in court and said: "For more than four-and-a-half years, the whole world has known that four sick and evil men killed 52 innocent people. | |
| "And yet now lawyers are talking and writing about 'apparent bombers'." | "And yet now lawyers are talking and writing about 'apparent bombers'." |
| "Your inquest is not going to be about 52 apparent deaths, it will be about 52 real deaths caused by four real bombers. | "Your inquest is not going to be about 52 apparent deaths, it will be about 52 real deaths caused by four real bombers. |
| "I find it very upsetting and insulting to use the word 'apparent'." | "I find it very upsetting and insulting to use the word 'apparent'." |
| Hazel Webb, whose 29-year-old daughter Laura, of Islington, north London, was one of six people killed at Edgware Road, agreed. | Hazel Webb, whose 29-year-old daughter Laura, of Islington, north London, was one of six people killed at Edgware Road, agreed. |
| Apologies for distress | |
| She said: "'Apparent bombers' just does not rest easily with me." | She said: "'Apparent bombers' just does not rest easily with me." |
| Apologising, Mr Keith said: "I must balance that which may seem to be obvious with not wishing to pre-judge the issues. | |
| "We are acutely aware that this raises terrible issues for the bereaved families." | |
| The coroner, Lady Justice Hallett, repeated the apology and said they would come up with another term that would not cause distress. | |
| Suicide bombers Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Hasib Hussain and Jermaine Lindsay detonated the bombs on three Tube trains and a bus during the morning rush-hour on 7 July 2005, killing 52 people and injuring more than 700. | Suicide bombers Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Hasib Hussain and Jermaine Lindsay detonated the bombs on three Tube trains and a bus during the morning rush-hour on 7 July 2005, killing 52 people and injuring more than 700. |
| Inquest hearings have not taken place yet because criminal proceedings relating to the attacks have taken years. | Inquest hearings have not taken place yet because criminal proceedings relating to the attacks have taken years. |
| Inquest ruling due | |
| Thursday's hearing was told that if full inquests into the deaths are held they are expected to take place in the autumn. | Thursday's hearing was told that if full inquests into the deaths are held they are expected to take place in the autumn. |
| A further three-day hearing, scheduled to begin on 26 April, will decide if full inquests are needed and what their remit should be. | |
| The coroner will then rule whether to split the inquests into the victims' deaths and those of the bombers. | |
| Imran Khan, representing the families of Mohammad Sidique Khan and Hasib Hussain, said: "Whatever involvement my clients have in these proceedings, we will try our utmost to ensure that it is done with sensitivity and deference to the wishes of the bereaved families." | |
| It is thought none of the families of the suicide bombers have applied for legal aid. |