Three years on, Southwark remembers the victims of the London Bridge and Borough terror attacks
1 June 2020
This Wednesday, Southwark will mark the third anniversary of the dreadful terrorist attacks on London Bridge and Borough, in which eight people tragically died and many more were injured or affected.
Southwark Council has been working with Southwark Cathedral to make arrangements to mark the anniversary and remember everyone affected by that tragic night. As we are still in lockdown, we cannot all gather together in person to pay our respects, and so instead have invited all those affected by the tragedy to join together for a virtual service hosted by Southwark Cathedral. This will be broadcast at 10am on Wednesday from the Cathedral’s live service stream but will also be available afterwards for anyone who cannot watch at that time.
The service will include readings, prayers, and also reflections from victims’ families and other figures including Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, and Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council.
Cllr Peter John, Leader of Southwark Council, said: “We may be in lockdown but it was so important to us all to find a way to come together on the 3rd June, to make sure everyone affected by the events of that dreadful night knows they are always in our thoughts.
“We will never forget the loss and pain caused by those evil acts, but we also remember the bravery shown by so many that night, and the way our great city came together in the face of evil, to stand and remain united.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Three years have passed since the appalling terrorist attack at London Bridge, and as a city we remember the victims, their families and the emergency services and first responders who ran towards danger without a second thought.
“My thoughts are with the families and friends who lost loved ones in this awful attack, and who are having to adjust to grieving in very different and difficult circumstances this year.
“The cowardly terrorists who commit these dreadful acts do so to try and divide us, and to change how we treat one another. But we should be proud of the way our city has responded – time and time again – by remaining united. Londoners will always see our diversity as one of our greatest strengths, and we will continue to honour the innocent victims by staying true to the values that bind us together.”
The Dean of Southwark, The Very Revd Andrew Nunn said: ‘‘The third anniversary of the terrorist attack on London Bridge and Borough Market falls at a time when we could easily be distracted by everything else that is happening. But it is right to stop and to remember the events of 3 June 2017. The memories and the pain are still around and very real for many people. I hope that together we can continue the process of healing as we stop to remember.”
The council continues to work with families, victims and local people to develop plans for a permanent memorial to all those lost and harmed in the attacks, and hopes to unveil it in 2021 once the city has emerged from lockdown.
Page last updated: 01 June 2020
