Main navigation

Case Study

Topic

Needs of People – Non-Health

Incident / Exercise

Incident: 7 July 2005 London Bombings - Assistance Centre

Background and Context

The bombings in London on 7 July killed 52 people and seriously injured around 50 others. Approximately 800 others suffered minor injuries in the four explosions – three on the London Underground at Edgware Road, Aldgate and Kings Cross/Russell Square, and one on a No. 30 bus at Tavistock Square.

How the Topic was Handled

In the immediate aftermath of the bombings, the Metropolitan Police, Westminster City Council, and other Government and voluntary agencies established an Assistance Centre. Its purpose was to provide people who had been bereaved, injured, traumatised, or otherwise affected by the incidents with information, advice, practical help and emotional support. Following the bombings in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt later in July, and a number of other incidents overseas after that date, the 7th July Assistance Centre extended its support beyond those affected by the London bombings.

Initially the centre was known as the Family Assistance Centre (FAC), however the name was changed in August 2005 to 7th July Assistance Centre when it became apparent that the name had unintentionally excluded those who did not consider themselves “family”.

In November 2005, the contract for the longer-term 7th July Assistance Centre was awarded by Westminster City Council to Brent Bereavement Services (BBS), who continue to deliver the service today.

At present, the Centre is in contact with around 600 service users, most of them affected by the London bombings.

Lessons Identified

A number of those involved in the response have produced reports detailing the involvement of, and lessons identified by, their organisation. Of these, the following provide some detail about the response across a number of agencies, and highlight a range of important lessons.

• In June 2006, the London Assembly published a report into London’s response to 7th July. This, as well as follow-up reports, can be viewed at www.london.gov.uk/assembly/reports/ [External website].
• In September 2006, the Government published its own document, entitled Addressing lessons from the emergency response to the 7 July 2005 London bombings [External website].
• In the same month, the London Resilience Team published their report into London’s response, entitled Looking Back, Moving Forward [External website].
• In December 2006, Victim Support produced a report looking at the role its volunteers played in the response. The report is entitled Building resilience: report and recommendations for Victim Support on delivering services to victims of terrorist attack[External website].

Contacts for Further Information

Humanitarian Assistance Unit,
Department for Culture Media & Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street,
London,
SW1Y 5DH
Tel: 020 7211 6200

Additional Documents

Further information can be accessed at www.7julyassistance.org.uk [External website].