Gathering marks 14 years since Brixton nail bomb

By
Tim Dickens
-
brixton nail bomb
Members of the group 17.24.30 gather on a previous anniversary outside Iceland, Brixton. Picture from 17.14.30 website

People will gather in Electric Avenue, Brixton, at 6pm tomorrow to commemorate the anniversary of the Brixton nail bomb.

Candles will be lit at the spot outside Iceland, where the bomb exploded 14 years ago.  The ceremony will proceed to Windrush Square to commemorate the attack that left 50 people, including a 23-month-old child, injured.

The device, which exploded at 5.25pm, was one of three planted by David Copeland during a two-week campaign of terror targeting black, Asian and gay communities in the capital.

Mark Healey, from the group 17-24-30, which organised the vigil, told the Blog last year: “This is an opportunity for people to remember what happened and to reconnect with each other. It gives old people the opportunity to connect with younger people.”

A plaque on the wall of Iceland marks the spot where the device, hidden in a  holdall, exploded, blowing out shop windows and leaving stunned shoppers and traders with horrific injuries.

It was the first of the attacks. Copeland went on to target Brick Lane on 24 April, injuring 13 people, and the Admiral Duncan pub, Soho, on Friday 30 April, where three people died.

For more information visit 172430notohatecrime.wordpress.com.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

1 COMMENT

  1. Thanks for covering the annual gathering to mark the anniversary of the Brixton Bomb. This year we will be meeting at the side of the Iceland Store from 6pm, lighting three candles to represent the three communities attacked – Brixton, Brick Lane and Soho – as well as taking a moment to remember those killed and injured in Boston, and other hate crime attacks as well. Those of us who remember the London nail bomb attacks will never forget the climate of fear that they created in London at the time, the sheer shock and horror that this could happen. It saddens us greatly that these kind of attacks are still taking place around the world and we live in hope that the day will come when they will stop – until then we will continue to gather, to remember those lost and remind ourselves why it is important that we continue to call on all communities to stand together.

Comments are closed.