Docklands Light Railway passengers will be asked to observe a minute’s silence today in memory of the victims of the Docklands terrorist bombing 25 years ago.
Inam Bashir and John Jeffries, who had been working in their newspaper kiosk, both died when the IRA detonated a lorry bomb at Marsh Wall by South Quay station on February 9, 1996.
More than 100 others were injured in the attack on the Isle of Dogs, which devastated the area.
The minute’s silence is due to take place onboard DLR trains at 7.01pm and will be announced by passenger service agents.
Transport for London is also running a message on the station’s platform information screens and a socially-distanced memorial ceremony for survivors, led by Rev Ed Dix of St Luke’s Church Millwall, will take place at South Quay station.
Tony Sharp, who was severely injured in the bombing, said: “The day of the bombing, which is also my brother’s birthday, will always be significant for me. I was working on the fourth floor at the back of the building and the impact of the blast caused severe injuries. I rushed out and the emergency services whisked me off to the Royal London Hospital.
“On the first anniversary of the blast, I approached St Luke’s to hold a commemorative event, and it is important to mark the anniversary every year.”
The elected mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs, will join survivors at the event. He said: “I can still recall the moment when the borough felt the shock wave of the explosion on the island and the horror and devastation of what had happened became clear.
“As our community continues to live with the legacy of this horrific terrorist event, it is important for us to pause to remember John and Inam, those who were injured and those who lost their homes.”
Rachael Burford is the Local Democracy Reporter for Tower Hamlets. The Local Democracy Reporter Service is a BBC-funded initiative to ensure councils are covered properly in local media.
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