Key facts
- The UK held its first national day to honor victims and survivors of terrorism.
- Survivors of the 7/7 London bombings and the 2017 Manchester Arena attack shared their ongoing struggles.
- Paul Price, a Manchester Arena attack survivor, spoke of rebuilding hope and resilience.
- Andy Burnham pledged to explore a national memorial and reforms to victim compensation and legal aid.
- Survivors expressed feelings of being forgotten and called for sustained support.
The United Kingdom marked its inaugural national day for victims and survivors of terrorism, a day intended to acknowledge their experiences and ongoing struggles. The commemoration included a nationwide two-minute silence and a ceremony in London where survivors and bereaved family members shared their testimonies.
Survivors of significant attacks, including the 7/7 London bombings and the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, spoke about the enduring impact of these events. Thelma Stober, a survivor of the 7/7 attacks, emphasized that the consequences of terrorism are measured "in years and decades." Paul Price, who lost his partner and sustained life-changing injuries in the Manchester Arena attack, described the daily challenges he faced but also the possibility of rebuilding hope and resilience.
Kallie Fenton, who was 12 at the time of the Manchester Arena attack, shared feelings of being "forgotten about" eight years later and expressed a desire for more support. Other survivors, like Abbey and Kaci Connor-Dugdale, recounted the lasting psychological effects, including difficulties with trust and heightened anxiety, and noted challenges in accessing consistent mental health support such as EMDR and CBT due to long waiting lists.
Addressing the attendees, Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed "deep admiration" for the survivors and acknowledged that they have "too often" not received the support they deserved. He pledged to consult on establishing a permanent national memorial and committed to reviewing compensation schemes and access to legal assistance for victims. Brendan Cox, co-founder of Survivors Against Terror, also called for an overhaul of the compensation process, describing it as "dehumanising and demeaning."