This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-11511461

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
7 July London bombings inquests under way 7 July London bombings inquests under way
(40 minutes later)
The inquests for the 52 people killed in the 7 July 2005 bomb attacks have begun with a minute's silence. The 52 victims of the 7 July 2005 bomb attacks were "murdered" during an "unimaginably dreadful wave of horror", the inquests into their deaths heard.
Lady Justice Hallett, the coroner, will preside over five months of hearings without a jury into the attacks in London on three Tube trains and a bus. Coroner Lady Justice Hallett requested a minute's silence before the hearings into the attacks on three Tube trains and a bus in London began.
She will examine if MI5 could have stopped the bombers - but many victims' families still want a public inquiry.She will examine if MI5 could have stopped the bombers - but many victims' families still want a public inquiry.
Hugo Keith QC, counsel to the inquests, said some of their questions may never be fully answered. Hugo Keith QC, counsel to the inquests, said the bombers had felt no humanity.
In his opening statement, Mr Keith told the court that the bombs "detonated amongst the innocent and the unknowing, indiscriminately killing and maiming passengers". In his opening statement, Mr Keith told the court some questions may never be answered.
"The bombs struck down men and women, the old and young, British nationals as well as foreigners. He said the bombs "detonated amongst the innocent and the unknowing, indiscriminately killing and maiming passengers".
"They had no regard to whether the victim was Christian, Muslim, a follower of any of our other great faiths, an adherent to none. "They had no regard to whether the victim was Christian, Muslim, a follower of any of our other great faiths, an adherent to none. They were just travelling on the London transport system," he said.
"They were just travelling on the London transport system."
Emergency servicesEmergency services
In addition to the 52 people killed, some 700 people were injured, many of them severely and permanently, when four al-Qaeda-backed suicide bombers, all British men, detonated their devices.In addition to the 52 people killed, some 700 people were injured, many of them severely and permanently, when four al-Qaeda-backed suicide bombers, all British men, detonated their devices.
Mr Keith said Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Germaine Lindsay and Hasib Hussain had unleashed an" unimaginably dreadful wave of horror" by detonating the bombs.Mr Keith said Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Germaine Lindsay and Hasib Hussain had unleashed an" unimaginably dreadful wave of horror" by detonating the bombs.
"They were acts of mindless savagery which could only outline the sheer inhumanity of the perpetrators.""They were acts of mindless savagery which could only outline the sheer inhumanity of the perpetrators."
He added: "The essential nature of these acts was murder, given the act of detonating bombs in a public place is so self-evidently an act of murder."He added: "The essential nature of these acts was murder, given the act of detonating bombs in a public place is so self-evidently an act of murder."
The hearings at the Royal Courts of Justice in London are expected to last until at least March next year and will look into the precise details of the 2005 attacks.The hearings at the Royal Courts of Justice in London are expected to last until at least March next year and will look into the precise details of the 2005 attacks.
Witnesses will include survivors of the attacks on underground trains near Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square Tube stations, and on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square, near King's Cross.Witnesses will include survivors of the attacks on underground trains near Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square Tube stations, and on a double-decker bus in Tavistock Square, near King's Cross.
Members of the emergency services who tried to save lives will also give evidence.Members of the emergency services who tried to save lives will also give evidence.
Lady Justice Hallett asked for the names of those who died to be read out before the minute's silence. Lady Justice Hallett, who will preside over five months of hearings without a jury, asked for the names of those who died to be read out before the minute's silence.
The hearings are also expected to be shown footage and pictures of the aftermath of the attacks that have never been seen before.The hearings are also expected to be shown footage and pictures of the aftermath of the attacks that have never been seen before.
Lady Hallett said as much information as possible would be released to the hearings.Lady Hallett said as much information as possible would be released to the hearings.
"I will balance carefully the needs of national security with relevance and fairness," she said."I will balance carefully the needs of national security with relevance and fairness," she said.
"It is in the interests of everyone that these inquests are conducted in as open a manner as possible.""It is in the interests of everyone that these inquests are conducted in as open a manner as possible."
She added that she had yet to decide "whether it is in my powers, and if so, if it is in the interests of justice to conduct any closed hearings".She added that she had yet to decide "whether it is in my powers, and if so, if it is in the interests of justice to conduct any closed hearings".
In a ruling earlier this year, she said she would also look into the backgrounds of the bombers and what the security services knew about them.In a ruling earlier this year, she said she would also look into the backgrounds of the bombers and what the security services knew about them.
Two years after the attacks, it emerged that MI5 had come across the ringleader and one of the other bombers during their investigations into another extremist cell.Two years after the attacks, it emerged that MI5 had come across the ringleader and one of the other bombers during their investigations into another extremist cell.
Some families believe the security services and police had enough information to work out that Mohammad Sidique Khan, the ringleader, was a threat. Security officials insist they only had fragments of information and could not have predicted what happened.Some families believe the security services and police had enough information to work out that Mohammad Sidique Khan, the ringleader, was a threat. Security officials insist they only had fragments of information and could not have predicted what happened.
There have been two official reports into the bombings by the Intelligence and Security Committee in Parliament, both of which said that MI5 should not be blamed.There have been two official reports into the bombings by the Intelligence and Security Committee in Parliament, both of which said that MI5 should not be blamed.
But Graham Foulkes, father of 22-year-old David, who was killed by the Edgware Road bomb, said he and other families were angry that the security service was still attempting to keep information out of the public domain.But Graham Foulkes, father of 22-year-old David, who was killed by the Edgware Road bomb, said he and other families were angry that the security service was still attempting to keep information out of the public domain.
"By every kind of moral standard that you're brought up with, that's wrong," he said."By every kind of moral standard that you're brought up with, that's wrong," he said.
"You're told, if you make a mistake, you hold up your hands. My view is that their incompetence allowed Mohammad Sidique Khan to get through.""You're told, if you make a mistake, you hold up your hands. My view is that their incompetence allowed Mohammad Sidique Khan to get through."
Many of the relatives of victims are represented in the inquests and will be able to question witnesses.Many of the relatives of victims are represented in the inquests and will be able to question witnesses.
Julie Nicholson, whose daughter Jenny also died in the Edgware Road blast, said: "The inquest represents a juncture at which a very well-respected judge can ask those questions so that every aspect of the events can be scrutinised and analysed.Julie Nicholson, whose daughter Jenny also died in the Edgware Road blast, said: "The inquest represents a juncture at which a very well-respected judge can ask those questions so that every aspect of the events can be scrutinised and analysed.
"So you go from having all these jigsaw pieces in a bag, shaken up, to having a clearer picture, a story.""So you go from having all these jigsaw pieces in a bag, shaken up, to having a clearer picture, a story."
She said the key question for her was whether anything could have been done to prevent Jenny's death.She said the key question for her was whether anything could have been done to prevent Jenny's death.
"It's a question that's asked and raised all the time. And I think I would like, before I reach my grave, to put that to rest, to understand that possibly yes it could," she said."It's a question that's asked and raised all the time. And I think I would like, before I reach my grave, to put that to rest, to understand that possibly yes it could," she said.
Ros Morley, whose husband Colin was another victim of the Edgware Road bomb, added: "Innocent citizens in the UK and worldwide need to know that they are protected now and in the future.
"I hope it is possible to gain something positive out of a deeply tragic event in which 52 innocent people lost their lives."
The hearings had been delayed because of criminal investigations and questions over what the inquests should cover.The hearings had been delayed because of criminal investigations and questions over what the inquests should cover.
But Mr Keith said the earlier investigations had not focused on the victims whereas these inquests would.
He said these inquests needed to look at the issue of preventability.
The inquests of the suicide bombers have been adjourned and will be held separately.The inquests of the suicide bombers have been adjourned and will be held separately.
To see the enhanced content on this page, you need to have JavaScript enabled and Adobe Flash installed. To see the enhanced content on this page, you need to have JavaScript enabled and Adobe Flash installed.