Britain’s healing process continues
Services honor ‘irreplaceable’ lives stolen by terrorists on 7/7
It’s been a decade since Esther Hyman’s sister, Miriam, was killed when four suicide bombers unleashed carnage on this city’s public transportation system in the worst terrorist attack on British soil. Miriam Hyman, 32, a picture researcher, was on her way to work July 7, 2005, when the double-decker bus she was on exploded in Tavistock Square in central London.
Three other bombs were detonated in underground stations by four Islamist terrorists during the morning rush hour.
The attacks killed 52 people and injured nearly 800.
“As I said at her funeral, I can still remember when Miriam was in my mummy’s tummy. She was born when I was just over 31⁄ 2, and I was very, very excited,” Esther Hyman told USA TODAY. “She’s an irreplaceable person in my life.”
Tuesday, Britain will commemorate 7/7 with a national service at St. Paul’s Cathedral and a separate service at the memorial for the 52 victims in Hyde Park attended by Prince William, survivors and the families of those killed.
This nation is also grieving the attack June 26 in the Tunisian resort city of Sousse that killed 38 people — 30 of them Britons — when a militant fired on tourists at a beachfront hotel.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced Sunday that bank fines for infractions such as manipulating foreign exchange markets will cover the costs for a memorial to those killed in the Tunisia attack and another memorial for all Britons who have died in terrorist attacks overseas.
The 7/7 Tavistock Square Memorial Trust is raising funds for a separate memorial to honor the 13 people killed in the bus explosion.
“In their wicked madness, the bombers presumably thought that they were doing something that would be a step toward creating a different city altogether,” former government minister and London mayoral candidate Tessa Jowell said last week in delivering the fourth 7/7 Tavistock Square Memorial Trust Lecture.
“Perhaps they thought they could set the government against the people, race against race, non-Muslims against Muslims, eroding trust and understanding,” she continued. “Of course, they failed, and they failed utterly.”
Hyman said she pitied the terrorists behind such attacks.
“These attacks are happening on a daily, weekly basis globally, and my heart goes out to everyone who’s involved in any of these kinds of incidents — not only the victims and the families of the victims and those injured, but even for the perpetrators,” she said. “I pity them — that they are so damaged that they need to commit these acts.”
She said the past decade had been spent “doing as much good work, positive work in Mim’s memory as we can. … I feel that we’re trying to do her proud.”
Those works by the Miriam Hyman Memorial Trust include establishing the Miriam Hyman Children’s Eyecare Center in India — Miriam was slightly nearsighted and appreciated the eye care she was given — and launching a website for teachers called Miriam’s Vision: A Response to the 2005 London Bombings.
The website is aimed at supporting teachers in educating students about 7/7 and helping young people to develop life skills that will equip them to prevail in the face of adversity.
“As time has gone on, and I don’t know if this is a personal truth or an absolute truth, and it doesn’t matter, but I feel that she finds lots of ways to let me know that she’s still right here with me,” Esther Hyman said. “She definitely finds ways to let me know she’s around.”
“Of course, (the bombers) failed, and they failed utterly.” London mayoral candidate Tessa Jowell