Memories from a day of terror

A FIRST responder has recalled the “pinch in the stomach” moment they realised the seriousness of the July 7 bombings, 20 years on.

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Superintendent Anna Bearman was a 23-year-old police constable on the Metropolitan Police response team when suicide bombing attacks took place on three London Underground trains and a bus on July 7, 2005.

At first, she and her three colleagues were told that there was an incident at King’s Cross, possibly related to a fire, but Ms Bearman said she remembers the feeling of a “pinch” in her stomach when she realised the situation was much more sinister.

She said: “On July 7, it was a nice summer's morning and everyone was elated because we had just won the bid for the London Olympics the day before. We were on duty and heard that there was confusion at King’s Cross and that perhaps there had been a fire, so we made our way down to the train station.