On the morning of
July 7th 2005, over 700 London commuters were injured and at least 56 were killed
when terrorists set off bombs in three subway trains and on a bus.
Two weeks later, Londoners were struck again by four more attempted
bombings and just today (July 27), four men were apprehended for their alleged
role in the failed bombing attempt.
Though few were injured in the second attack, the attempt left
bus stations closed and many wondering what to expect next.
According to many involved in the Hip-Hop scene in the UK, the
bombings shouldn’t stop people from going about their daily grind.
"Artists, especially in the urban community, need to set
an example that we absolutely won’t let these threats, bomb incidents and paranoia
get the best of us," Fiona Bloom, Director of International Marketing for
TVT Records told AllHipHop.com.
Upcoming R&B singer/rapper and Harlem, New York native Maya Azucena was on tour in the UK when the bombings occured.
Azucena has seen Londoners resiliency first-hand.
“I was really impressed with the resilience of the Londoners
the whole time,” Azucena said. “I mean think about eight confirmed
bombs being planted strategically around busy sections of London, within one
month! Half of which detonated and killed people! Instead, I saw mad people
doing their thing – drinking in pubs, going to work. My show was packed, so
not everyone stayed home scared.”
The bombings in London took place nearly four years since the
World Trade Center disaster in New York and a little over a year since the train
bombing in Spain, which killed 192 people and injured over 1200.
"I feel sorry for the victims and their families,"
BBC DJ Semtex stated. "In this day and age there should be no pain or suffering
anywhere."
Many travelers have cancelled flights and out of country excursions
in fear of terrorists.
Conversely, one man who isn’t going to let fear get to him is
Fat Man Scoop. Scoop is well known in the UK for his #1 hit "Love Like
This" featuring Faith Evans and told Allhiphop.com that won’t stop.
"I will not stop traveling,” Scoop said. “I
believe when God wants us to leave this planet, we will go. All I do is pray
and leave it in God’s hands," states Scoop. "By us stopping doing
what we do, they shut us down! F**k them!"
UK rapper Sway agrees. "Those people who have problems
should sort it out with each other and stop involving innocent people by blowing
up the average commuter," Sway told AllHipHop.com.
The bombings in London are the worst attack in Britain since
World War II. And though international terrorism remains, and will remain, a
constant threat to civilized societies, keeping a positive outlook and moving
forward with our lives seems to be a main theme in maintaining through these
attacks.
"We get on
with our lives and don’t let these events stop us living life to the fullest,"
UK Radio DJ Dan Greenpeace explained. "The terrorists will not succeed
in their cause because killing innocent people of all races and religions is
wrong."
