7/7 memorial defaced on anniversary

The Hyde Park memorial has been vandalised on the ninth anniversary of the 7/7 London attacks.

Slogans had been stencilled onto the white standing columns with graffiti. The columns have since been cleaned off.

One read ‘4 Innocent Muslims’, referring to the four suicide bombers in the 2005 attacks. Another said ‘Blair Lied, Thousands Died’. These same words were repeated on every pillar.

The Scotland Yard police stated “Officers were called by a member of the public shortly before 3.30am this morning and informed of the graffiti, which is being treated as criminal damage.

“Inquiries continue to be led by officers from Westminster – there have been no arrests at this time.”

A spokesman for the Royal Parks stated that, “We found it this morning. It has now been removed and the memorial can go ahead as planned. Obviously, we are very disappointed.”

John Falding, whose partner, Anat Rosenberg, was killed on the bus in Tavistock Square commented that “It is quite shocking, whoever did it was aiming for publicity and to cause maximum grief.”

The memorial consists of 52 stainless steel columns, to represent the 52 victims, which are located in four different areas to signify the four locations where the bombs went off, Edgware Road, King’s Cross, Aldgate and Tavistock Square.  It was unveiled in 2009 by the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the Prince of Wales and other political figures.

Prime Minister Cameron’s official spokesperson has deemed the actions “deplorable”.