Victims, not memorial vandals, in 7/7 families’ thoughts

The red and black graffiti, with messages such as “4Innocent Muslims”; “Blair Lied Thousands Died”; and “J7 Truth”, was cleaned off the columns of the memorial hours before families of those who died, survivors and emergency workers gathered for the ceremony in Hyde Park, London.

Elizabeth Nicholson, a 31-year-old administrative worker from Bristol, whose sister, 24-year-old Jennifer, was killed in the Edgware Road bomb, said the event was a means for people to “show their love” for the victims and she had no interest in the apparent graffiti protest.

Earlier in the emotional 
event, a minute’s silence was held, and the names of the dead 
were read before flowers were laid at the base of each column of the memorial, honouring the 52 dead in the attack at the hands of four suicide bombers on 
London’s transport system in 2005.

Those attending included former London Mayor Ken Livingstone and Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick.

A plaque with the names of the dead at the memorial was covered with bouquets including floral tributes from the Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and former Labour minister Tessa Jowell and London Mayor Boris Johnson.

Police are investigating the vandalism.