London has unfortunately experienced several significant terrorist attacks throughout its history. Here is an overview of some of the major incidents:
- The 7/7 Bombings (2005): On July 7, 2005, a series of coordinated suicide bomb attacks struck central London. Four Islamist extremists targeted three London Underground trains and a double-decker bus during morning rush hour. The attacks resulted in the deaths of 52 people, including the four perpetrators, and injured more than 700 individuals.
- The Harrods Bombing (1983): On December 17, 1983, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) detonated a car bomb outside the famous Harrods department store in Knightsbridge, London. The blast killed six people, including three police officers and three civilians, and injured nearly 100 others.
- The Bishopsgate Bombing (1993): On April 24, 1993, the IRA carried out a massive truck bomb attack in the financial district of Bishopsgate in the City of London. The explosion killed one person, injured around 40 people, and caused extensive damage to buildings in the area.
- The Woolwich Attack (2013): On May 22, 2013, two extremists, Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale, attacked and killed British soldier Lee Rigby in Woolwich, southeast London. The assailants, who were motivated by Islamic extremism, ran over Rigby with a car and then attacked him with knives in broad daylight.
- The Westminster Attack (2017): On March 22, 2017, a lone attacker, Khalid Masood, drove a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in central London, killing four people. He then stabbed a police officer near the Palace of Westminster before being shot and killed by police. The attack resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including the attacker, and injured dozens of others.
- The London Bridge Attack (2017): On June 3, 2017, three attackers drove a van into pedestrians on London Bridge and then proceeded to stab people in the nearby Borough Market area. Eight people were killed, and dozens were injured before the attackers were shot and killed by police.
These are just a few examples of significant terror attacks in London’s history. The city has unfortunately been targeted by various extremist groups, both domestically and internationally. Security measures and intelligence efforts have been continually strengthened to mitigate the risks and protect the city’s residents and visitors.
