‘Bulky bag’ helped save life in July 7 bus bombing

Eighteen-year-old terrorist Hasib Hussain, 18, killed 13 innocent people when he blew himself up on a number 30 bus in London’s Tavistock Square on July 7 2005.

Lisa French, who gave evidence at the July 7 inquest earlier, got on the bus at the same time as Hussain and followed him upstairs. She explained how she decided to sit down four rows in front of him because there was not enough space for her large laptop bag.

“I made the decision not to go and sit next to him because I was aware we both had very big bags and that he, we, you know, would be taking up a lot of room,” she said.

There was literally no bus left. It just dropped down behind our seats. Lisa French

She could not remember the blast but recalled waking up to find a gaping void behind her where the vehicle had been blown apart.

“There were no seats left behind me attached to the bus. There was literally no bus left. It just dropped down behind our seats,” she said.

Channel 4 News special report: July 7 London bombings inquest

Ms French, who in 2005 was a BT employee living in Newcastle upon Tyne, travelled to London on the morning of July 7 to attend a business meeting.

She broke down as she described how a police officer stopped her going to help the people lying in the wreckage of the bus.

She said: “He knew what I wanted to try to do. And he just shook his head at me and the look in his eyes, and he just guided me off the bus and I just knew then there was no hope for any of them.”

Ms French, who escaped the attack with perforated ear drums, broken teeth, cuts and bruises, described herself as “very lucky”.

'Totally unnecessary and preventable attack'
The mother of Anthony Fatayi-Williams, 26, questioned why her son died in a "preventable attack". Mr Fatayi-Williams, from Hendon in north London, was among those killed on the number 30 bus. Eyewitnesses recalled how he helped other commuters and pointed confused travellers in the right direction just minutes before.

Marie Fatayi-Williams said: "Anthony's life was cut short in a needless, totally unnecessary and preventable attack on London.

"His family continues to miss him sorely, even after these five years.

"We, his parents, continue to wonder if his death could have been prevented, or even the attacks foreseen by the relevant authorities."

"Anthony always said to me 'Mummy, do not worry about anything, just watch and see how well I will take care of you'.
"I in turn looked forward to caring for Anthony's children, my grandchildren.

"But alas his death has left a yawning vacuum in our lives and a sustained pain too strong for words and too deep for tears.

"Oh, how we miss you, Anthony. Oh, how I miss you sorely, so that the rose is not red and the violets are not blue any more for me."