London - A memorial of 52 tall stainless steel pillars to remember the victims of the 2005 London transport bombings was unveiled in Hyde Park on the fourth anniversary of the atrocity Tuesday. Prince Charles, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and London Mayor Boris Johnson were among the dignitaries present at the launch, attended by relatives of the 52 victims and many of the more than 700 people who were injured in the attack.
"This is your place. This is never to forget the affront to our tolerant, self-confident, vibrant city," cabinet minister Tessa Jowell said in a speech.
The 52 steel planks, each 3.5 metres high, were made in the steel city of Sheffield and designed in cooperation with the families and leading British sculptor Antony Gormley.
The gleaming steel pillars contain the dates of birth of those who died, but not their names, which are inscribed on a separate plaque to underline the random nature of the loss of life on that day.
Fifty-two people and the four attackers died after suicide bombers detonated backpacks on board three Underground trains and a bus in the British capital on July 7, 2005.
Investigations showed that the attackers, all British-born Muslims, had links with Pakistan and visited terrorist training camps there.
In the only trial that followed the attacks, three men were acquitted in April of charges of helping in the preparation of the attacks.
