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| 7/7 inquests: Coroner rules victims unlawfully killed | 7/7 inquests: Coroner rules victims unlawfully killed |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The coroner at the 7/7 London bombings inquests has formally ruled that the 52 people who died in the suicide attacks were unlawfully killed. | The coroner at the 7/7 London bombings inquests has formally ruled that the 52 people who died in the suicide attacks were unlawfully killed. |
| Lady Justice Hallett said she was making recommendations which "may save lives". She ruled out any further inquiries or inquests for the bombers. | |
| She said there was no evidence that any organisation or individual failings had "caused or contributed to the deaths". | |
| More than 700 people were injured in the four suicide bomb attacks in 2005. | More than 700 people were injured in the four suicide bomb attacks in 2005. |
| Speaking to a packed courtroom that had awaited her conclusions during 19 weeks of evidence, she thanked the bereaved for their "understanding, support and quiet dignity". | Speaking to a packed courtroom that had awaited her conclusions during 19 weeks of evidence, she thanked the bereaved for their "understanding, support and quiet dignity". |
| The bombers targeted Tube trains at Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square and a double decker bus in Tavistock Square. | The bombers targeted Tube trains at Aldgate, Edgware Road and Russell Square and a double decker bus in Tavistock Square. |
| The inquests heard 309 witnesses and a further 197 statements. | The inquests heard 309 witnesses and a further 197 statements. |
| After Lady Justice Hallett gave her unlawful killing verdicts, counsel to the inquests Hugo Keith QC read the names of the victims. | After Lady Justice Hallett gave her unlawful killing verdicts, counsel to the inquests Hugo Keith QC read the names of the victims. |
| With the examination of the emergency service response having been a major part of the inquiry's remit, the coroner concluded that the problems encountered had not led to any deaths. | |
| "I'm satisfied on balance of probabilities that each victim would have died whatever time the emergency services had arrived," she said. | |
| She added that all the expert medical and scientific evidence on the nature of the blasts shows that none could have survived, such was the nature of their injuries. | |
| Lady Justice Hallet said in her opening remarks that she was not aware of having left any reasonable stone unturned during the inquests. | |
| The proceedings had gone "much further than simply recording the sad fact that 52 innocent members of the travelling public were unlawfully killed in a dreadful act of terrorism," she said. | |
| "We have explored in detail the circumstances of the deaths of each of the individuals and the adequacy of the emergency response. | "We have explored in detail the circumstances of the deaths of each of the individuals and the adequacy of the emergency response. |
| "We have examined the background of [bombers] Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Hasib Hussain and Germaine Lindsay, the extent to which any of them had previously come to the attention of the authorities and how they were assessed by the security service. | "We have examined the background of [bombers] Mohammad Sidique Khan, Shehzad Tanweer, Hasib Hussain and Germaine Lindsay, the extent to which any of them had previously come to the attention of the authorities and how they were assessed by the security service. |
| "We have unearthed material that has never previously seen the light of day," she said. | "We have unearthed material that has never previously seen the light of day," she said. |
| 'No more superlatives' | 'No more superlatives' |
| She said that earlier concerns that the inquests could not provide a thorough investigation into MI5 and security issues had proved "unfounded". | She said that earlier concerns that the inquests could not provide a thorough investigation into MI5 and security issues had proved "unfounded". |
| While the security services and police had produced material that was relevant but could not be published, the coroner said she was satisfied by the inquiry's public scrutiny of MI5's action. | While the security services and police had produced material that was relevant but could not be published, the coroner said she was satisfied by the inquiry's public scrutiny of MI5's action. |
| Having heard countless testimonies to the bravery of individuals on the day - both people on the trains and rescue workers - she said she had "run out of superlatives" for their courage. | |
| The remit of the inquests at the Royal Courts of Justice in London included investigating the emergency services' response on the day and considering whether MI5 could have prevented the attacks. | The remit of the inquests at the Royal Courts of Justice in London included investigating the emergency services' response on the day and considering whether MI5 could have prevented the attacks. |
| The relatives of those who died said they wanted lessons to be learned and for their loss to contribute to the saving of lives of others in future. | The relatives of those who died said they wanted lessons to be learned and for their loss to contribute to the saving of lives of others in future. |
| They came up with a list of points they wanted her to cover in her ruling, which included stricter controls on bomb-making ingredients and improved training for emergency workers. | They came up with a list of points they wanted her to cover in her ruling, which included stricter controls on bomb-making ingredients and improved training for emergency workers. |
| They also listed nine points concerning the alleged failures by MI5 and police. | They also listed nine points concerning the alleged failures by MI5 and police. |
| The inquest heard the security services failed to show a colour surveillance photograph of two of the bombers to a supergrass before the attacks. | The inquest heard the security services failed to show a colour surveillance photograph of two of the bombers to a supergrass before the attacks. |
| But a senior MI5 officer, referred to as Witness G, gave evidence to the inquests and defended the decisions that had been made. | But a senior MI5 officer, referred to as Witness G, gave evidence to the inquests and defended the decisions that had been made. |
| The hearings revealed the confusion of the emergency services and transport controllers as the full extent of the situation emerged. | |
| There was a shortage of vital equipment, and mobile phones and radios did not work underground, the inquest was told. | There was a shortage of vital equipment, and mobile phones and radios did not work underground, the inquest was told. |
| The coroner heard about a delay of nearly 30 minutes in getting firefighters into King's Cross station and that they waited, thinking there could be a chemical or biological attack below, despite the fact that travellers who had made their own way out of the station showing no such signs. | The coroner heard about a delay of nearly 30 minutes in getting firefighters into King's Cross station and that they waited, thinking there could be a chemical or biological attack below, despite the fact that travellers who had made their own way out of the station showing no such signs. |