One of the bombs went off in Aldgate at a time when around 120 staff were coming to work at HQ at our previous building on Commercial Road. Incredibly, no staff were hurt despite the building's proximity and everyone was accounted for. People on the train had to walk on the tracks to the station.
Three bombs exploded on the underground and one exploded on a bus in Russell Square. The bombs were detonated by suicide bombers who were all killed. It was a major incident for the London NHS across the city trying to process and treat huge numbers of people suffering serious burns, shrapnel injuries, fractures, smoke inhalation, burst eardrums and shock. All the major London trauma centres were involved. Unrostered staff came to the hospitals to help with the effort.
It happened the day after London had been announced as the 2012 host City for the Olympic Games. Ken Livingstone, the then Mayor of London was still in Singapore where the Olympic announcement had just been made. It was such a contrast of emotions.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, will be hosting a memorial event for those who were involved.
Support for those affected
News coverage of these events may affect some involved in these or similar incidents. Colleagues and managers can offer good informal support if you let them know you were affected by these shocking events, but sometimes you may need additional support after an incident:
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NHS Text Support 24/7 service - confidential text support service, you can access support by texting FRONTLINE to 85258
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Frontline 19 – confidential psychological support service
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NHS Practitioner Health Programme – free confidential mental health support for healthcare workers - telephone 0300 0303 300
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Samaritans 116 123