UK opens investigation into July 7 bombing deaths [October 11 2010]

A long-delayed inquest into the July 7, 2005, suicide bombings that killed 52 people on Londons transit network opened today with a minutes silence in memory of the victims. The coroner, lawyers, members of the public and relatives of the victims stood in silent tribute as hearings opened at Londons Royal Courts of Justice into one of Britains deadliest terrorist attacks.

Lawyer Hugo Keith read out the names of all those who died when four suicide bombers detonated devices hidden in knapsacks aboard three subway trains and a double-decker bus. "It is the saddest of duties to open their inquests," Keith said. He said the bombs struck down British nationals as well as foreigners "with no regard to whether the victim was Christian, Muslim, a follower of any of our other great faiths, an adherent to none."

"They were acts of mindless savagery which could only outline the sheer inhumanity of the perpetrators," Keith added. The hearings are expected to last five months and will look at whether the emergency services response was adequate and whether the intelligence services and police could have prevented the attacks. The inquest was delayed pending the prosecution of three people accused of helping the attackers choose their targets. They were found innocent of the charge last year, clearing the way for these proceedings to begin.