LONDON (AP) 鈥 King Charles III led commemorations Monday on the 20th anniversary of the 2005 London transit bombings, the deadliest attack on the British capital since World War II.
Fifty-two people died and more than 700 were wounded when four British men blew themselves up on three subway trains and a bus during the morning rush hour on July 7, 2005. They were the first suicide bombings on European soil.
Two weeks later, four other bombers attempted a similar attack, but their devices failed to explode. No one was hurt.
The bombings remain seared into London鈥檚 collective memory, and the anniversary will be marked with a ceremony at the 7/7 memorial in Hyde Park and a service of commemoration at St. Paul鈥檚 Cathedral.
In a message, the king said his 鈥渉eartfelt thoughts and special prayers remain with all those whose lives were forever changed on that terrible summer鈥檚 day.鈥
He said the country could take heart from the bravery of the emergency services and others who responded to the attack, and 鈥渢he countless stories of extraordinary courage and compassion that emerged from the darkness of that day.鈥
Charles also hailed the 鈥渟pirit of unity that has helped London, and our nation, to heal.鈥
鈥淎s we remember those we lost, let us, therefore, use this 20th anniversary to reaffirm our commitment to building a society where people of all faiths and backgrounds can live together with mutual respect and understanding, always standing firm against those who would seek to divide us,鈥 he said.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said July 7, 2005 was one of Britain鈥檚 鈥渄arkest days.鈥
She said that 20 years on, 鈥淚slamist extremist terrorism remains the greatest threat鈥 to national security 鈥渇ollowed by extreme right-wing terrorism."
鈥淏ut we also face hybrid threats to our national security from hostile states, serious organized crime, cyber criminals, those threatening our border security and a troubling rise in violence-fixated individuals radicalized online,鈥 she wrote in the Sunday Mirror newspaper, adding that the government would 鈥渞elentlessly confront and counter threats to our national security.鈥
