London Bombings

Historical Overview

In the Islamist terror attacks known as "7/7," three bombs detonated almost simultaneously on the London Underground during the morning rush hour, followed by a fourth blast on a double-decker bus an hour later. The primary strategic objective of the four suicide bombers was to inflict maximum civilian casualties within the heart of the capital's transport infrastructure to protest the United Kingdom's military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. The coordinated attacks killed 52 people, injured hundreds, deeply traumatized the British public, and triggered a sweeping overhaul of national security legislation and counter-terrorism measures.