Minute’s silence as Norfolk and Suffolk mark 10th anniversary of 7/7 London bombings

Benedetta Ciaccia, of Norwich, who died in the 7/7 bombings. (Image: PA/EMPICS)

Today marks 10 years since the terrorist atrocities which changed Britain forever.

The nation will fall silent in memory of the 52 people killed and in solidarity with the more than 700 who were injured in the attacks on underground trains and buses in London on July 7, 2005.

Among the dead was Norwich woman Benedetta Ciaccia, 30, who was on her way to work when she fell victim to the underground train blast at Aldgate station.

Tube driver Jeff Porter at Edgware Road station where he was driving a train on the day of the 7/7 London bombings, London. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

She had been preparing to marry her fiance two months later, and he paid tribute to her as a 'strong and independent' woman who loved to travel and socialise.

Today, just days after observing a minute's silence for the victims of the Tunisia beach massacre, the country will fall silent again to mark the anniversary of 7/7.

The period of reflection - to take place at 11.30am today during a service at St Paul's Cathedral attended by the Duke of York - will be observed across the capital's public transport network, and across the country.

Survivors, relatives of the dead and members of the emergency services have been invited to the commemorative event.

Wreaths will be laid beforehand at the permanent Hyde Park memorial to the outrage, where a second service, to be attended by the Duke of Cambridge, will take place later, featuring music, a series of readings and the laying of flowers.

Norwich Cathedral's community will be remembering the events of 7/7 and the people affected during prayers at services throughout the day, while staff at County Hall have been invited to join in the national one minute's silence.

Dan Roper, deputy leader of Norfolk County Council, said many people in Norfolk were affected.

'It is important that we commemorate this anniversary to remember the victims who tragically died and to support people who had their lives changed forever by the atrocities,' he said. 'The commemoration is also about remembering the astonishing acts of bravery, courage and compassion that took place in the aftermath of the bombings.'

Alan Waters, leader of Norwich City Council, said: 'As we reflect upon 10 years since the London bombings, our thoughts will be with all those who continue to mourn loved ones, and the individuals still coping with the lasting effects of that tragic day.'

July 7 2005 had dawned with London still elated from learning the previous day that it had won the 2012 Olympics, but the euphoria was short-lived.

Suicide bombers Mohammed Sidique Khan, 30, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, Hasib Hussain, 18, and Jermaine Lindsay, 19, met at Luton station that morning.

They took a train to King's Cross in London, then hugged and separated to carry out their deadly missions.

A fortnight after their devastating attacks, another four would-be suicide bombers launched failed attacks on the Tube and a bus, leading to police marksmen shooting dead innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes.

Gill Hicks, who lost both of her legs in the 7/7 terrorist attacks, yesterday walked from King's Cross to Tavistock Square alongside religious leaders in a 'moment of quiet remembrance' to pay tribute to the 52 people who died.

She carried a floral tribute reading 'Together' along with the Imam of Leeds' largest mosque Makkah Masjid and leaders of other faiths.

And there were emotional scenes as Ms Hicks met and hugged Pc Andrew Maxwell, who saved her life 10 years ago.

The threat of terrorism 10 years later was horrifyingly demonstrated last month when a gunman murdered 38 people, including 30 Britons, in the Tunisian resort of Sousse.

The head of MI5, Andrew Parker, described the 'disgusting' murders of 7/7 as an 'enduring reminder' of what his organisation 'is striving every day to prevent'.

He added that the atrocity ended any doubt about the danger facing the UK and led to a 'step-change' in the nation's counter-terrorism defences which was crucial in foiling future plots.

'In the preceding months, there had been a degree of scepticism about the terrorism threat in the media: surely it couldn't happen here?' he said.

'The fact of 7/7 ended those arguments and led to a step-change in the nation's counter terrorism defences.'

Meanwhile the country's most senior counter-terrorism officer has said that the rise of Islamic State and extremists' capacity to 'reach' into homes means Britain faces a 'very different' threat today compared to the time of the July 7 bombings.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley appealed to communities to 'step forward' in the fight against radicalisation, saying their help is now more crucial than ever to security services' efforts to prevent fresh attacks.

'I heard lots of screaming'

Jeff Porter cannot help being reminded of the horrific moment a bomb exploded on a Tube as he drove a train in the opposite direction.

For the 56-year-old returned to work despite the trauma of witnessing the carnage caused by the blast at Edgware Road station - and still drives Tubes on exactly the same line, the Circle Line.

'I saw the train coming in the opposite direction,' he said. 'I recognised the driver. As the second carriage passed I saw what looked like a dull, orange bubble expanding. I had no idea what it was.

'It suddenly became completely dark and the train seemed to accelerate away.

'I heard lots of screaming, but I couldn't see a thing. Everything was just black.

'I stopped the train and I could hear the other train slowly grinding to a halt - then there was absolute silence for a moment. I just wondered what on earth had happened. It just didn't make any sense.

'I could hear someone calling out 'help me, help me', and passengers started knocking on my door. I made an announcement telling people to sit tight and we were sorting things out.'

Mr Porter admits it did not register that a bomb had exploded yards from his train, but he realised there had been a serious incident when a colleague banged on his window, shouting out that people were dead, and others were dying. Asked what he feels about the bombers, he said: 'They were terribly misguided. It just didn't make any sense - what on earth did they think they could achieve?'

Timeline of key events before and after the 7/7 bombings

February 2, 2004 - Plot ringleader Mohammed Sidique Khan and 7/7 number two Shehzad Tanweer travel to Crawley, West Sussex, to meet Omar Khyam, the mastermind behind a fertiliser bomb plot. MI5 surveillance officers take a clear colour photograph of the pair at a service station on their way home to Leeds.

January 17, 2005 - West Yorkshire Police receive intelligence that a committed extremist called 'Saddique' from Batley, West Yorkshire, underwent training in Afghanistan in the late 1990s or early 2000s. MI5 and police fail to identify the man, but it emerges after the 7/7 bombings that he was Khan.

February 22, 2005 - The four plotters begin stockpiling peroxide for their homemade explosives.

May 2005 - Jermaine Lindsay rents a flat in Leeds, for use as a bomb factory and the terrorists begin assembling their devices.

July 7, 2005 - Khan, Tanweer, Lindsay and Hasib Hussain meet at Luton station. They take the 7.25am train to King's Cross in London, then hug and separate to carry out their deadly missions. Within three minutes of 8.50am, Tanweer detonates his bomb at Aldgate, Khan sets his device off at Edgware Road and Lindsay blows himself up between King's Cross and Russell Square. Nearly an hour later Hussain detonates his device on a number 30 bus in Tavistock Square. As well as killing themselves and 52 others, the bombers injure more than 700 people and cause huge disruption to the capital's transport network.

July 12, 2005 - Officers identify CCTV images of the four bombers at Luton and King's Cross stations. Police raid the homes of Khan, Tanweer and Hussain in West Yorkshire, as well as their bomb factory.

July 21, 2005 - London is again plunged into chaos after another four men launch failed attacks on tube trains and a bus.

September 1, 2005 - Middle Eastern television channel Al Jazeera broadcasts a martyrdom video recorded by Khan before his death.

May 11, 2006 - A report by the Parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) reveals that Khan and Tanweer were known to MI5 before the bombings but were not fully investigated because the Security Service had more pressing priorities.

April 28, 2009 - The only three people to be charged in connection with the 7/7 attacks are cleared of helping the bombers after two trials at Kingston Crown Court. But Waheed Ali and Mohammed Shakil are convicted of conspiracy to attend a terrorist training camp.

May 19, 2009 - A second ISC report concludes that MI5 cannot be criticised for failing to investigate Khan fully before the 7/7 bombings because it was swamped with terror suspects at the time.

July 7, 2009 - The Prince of Wales unveils a permanent memorial to the 52 innocent victims in Hyde Park in London.

May 6, 2011 - The coroner at the 7/7 inquest in London raises serious concerns about how MI5 investigates and prioritises suspects after hearing how the Security Service cropped a clear colour photograph of plot ringleader Mohammed Sidique Khan so badly it could not be shown to an informant.