July 7 bombers' families fight legal aid refusal

Terror: As well as killing themselves and 52 others, the bombers injured over 700 people
12 April 2012

A High Court challenge is being launched today following a decision to refuse legal aid to relatives of the July 7 suicide bombers for representation at their upcoming inquests.

Judicial review proceedings brought by Hasina Patel, widow of plot mastermind Mohammed Sidique Khan, will be heard by two judges in London.

It emerged in April that ministers rejected two applications by relatives after ruling they did not meet the criteria for public funding for their lawyers.

The Government already agreed that legal aid will be offered to the families of the four bombers' 52 innocent victims of the 2005 attacks in London.

Suicide bombers Khan, 30, Hasib Hussain, 18, Shehzad Tanweer, 22, and Jermaine Lindsay, 19, met at Luton station on the morning of July 7 2005.

They took a train to King's Cross in London, then hugged and separated to carry out their deadly missions.

Within three minutes of 8.50am, Tanweer detonated his bomb at Aldgate, Khan set his device off at Edgware Road and Lindsay blew himself up between King's Cross and Russell Square.

Hussain detonated his device on board the number 30 bus at Tavistock Square at 9.47am.

As well as killing themselves and 52 others, the bombers injured over 700 people.

Ms Patel's application for permission to apply for a judicial review of the decision of the Secretary of State for Justice will be heard by Lord Justice Thomas and Mr Justice Silber.

Inquests into the deaths of the victims are to be held at the Royal Courts of Justice in London in October.

The inquests of the bombers are expected to follow at a later date.

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: "One of the perpetrators' relatives has applied for a judicial review of the decision to refuse legal aid for inquest representation.

"We are defending the claim. It would be inappropriate to comment further on ongoing legal proceedings."

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