Dubai: As the United Kingdom observes the 10th anniversary of the July 7 terrorist attacks that killed 52 people and left hundreds more injured in central London, memories of this terrifying day came flooding back to British expats living in the UAE.
The terrorist attacks, targeting civilians using public transport during rush hour on July 7, 2015, left a deep mark in the hearts of many people, especially those who lost relatives or had known many people who were caught up in the horrors of that day.
Gulf News spoke to long-term residents who were not in London during the attacks, but were shocked to their core after hearing that British citizens could do such a thing to their nation.
“My reaction now is the same as it was back then,” said Tony Harris, a deputy chairman of a financial services company. “It’s shocking that people who were brought up in Britain could do such terrible atrocities in one of the most open cities in the world.”
Still deeply saddened by the events of that day, he said, people who live in cosmopolitan cities like London, surrounded by people from different backgrounds, should learn how to get along with one another without hatred and threat of this kind.
“In a city like London, we depend on everyone getting on well together. This is why it was shocking that these things would happen in a place where there are no restrictions on people going about their daily lives and living whatever life they like.”
Sharing the same sentiments, David M., a long-term resident in Dubai said it’s so difficult to comment on such an event that took away many innocent lives in a second. He said unfortunately these events are targeting more places around the world and something must be done.
“The people that portray these sort of things just bring the world against them and bring negative results. It’s such a sad reflection on people in the world that innocent lives are taken for no effect other than to bring public opinion against the betrayals.”
He said he wishes people would be like-minded in wanting peace in the world and would stand up against these things.
Claire Lawson, an associate director, said even though she wasn’t there during the attacks, and neither did she lose any relatives, “that’s not to say I was any less shocked at the devastation of the attack.”
“A decade later, it saddens me to feel that we are still a world that is at the hands of terror — the recent devastation in Tunisia being the first that springs to mind but there have been others in France, Australia and Canada to name just a few. The realisation that there is just as many terrorist attacks today as there were 10 years ago is a depressing fact. I would have thought that there would be some sort of peace by now but it seems there is still a long road ahead.”
Another long-term resident said the only fear is that these events would happen again.
“We are all aware of the fact that in the current climate, it’s something that these types of people may try to do again,” said Tony Wilson. “These things can happen anytime, and if you or your relatives are unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, then you might be affected.”
