A commemorative plaque has been installed in memory of the victims of the attack. (credit: Tower Hamlets Council)
IRA terrorists detonated a terrorist lorry bomb at Marsh Wall, adjacent to South Quay Docklands Light Railway (DLR) station on Friday 9 February, 1996 at 7.01pm.
Residents are being asked to observe a minute’s silence at 7.01pm on Tuesday, 9 February.
The incident resulted in the death of Inam Bashir and John Jeffries who had been working in their newspaper kiosk Newstop2000.
The bomb had been parked adjacent to Inam and John’s newspaper kiosk.
It left more than 100 people injured. Many are still living with life changing injuries today.
Tony Sharp was working at the Franklin Mint in South Quay and was also severely injured on the night of the bombing.
He has since been actively involved in the Docklands Victims Association (DVA), led by the late Hamida Bashir, whose 29-year old son Inam, was killed, and Jonathan Ganesh, who was severely injured in the attack and was also a friend of Inam and John.
Tony said: “The day of the bombing, which is also my brother’s birthday, will always be significant for me.
“I was working on the fourth floor at the back of the building and the impact of the blast caused severe injuries. I rushed out and the emergency services whisked me off to the Royal London Hospital.
“On the first anniversary of the blast, I approached St Luke’s to hold a commemorative event, and it is important to mark the anniversary every year.”
Led by Rev Ed Dix of St Luke’s Church Millwall, a socially distanced act of commemoration will take place at South Quay DLR station, where a commemorative plaque has been installed in memory of the victims of the attack.
Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs, will join survivors and local residents at the commemoration.
Mayor Biggs said: “I can still recall the moment when the borough felt the shock wave of the explosion on the island and the horror and devastation of what had happened became clear.
“As our community continues to live with the legacy of this horrific terrorist event, it is important for us to pause to remember John and Inam, those who were injured and those who lost their homes.”
On board DLR trains, Passenger Service Agents will observe a one-minute silence.
Transport for London will also run a message on the station’s platform information screens.
For more on this story, and the latest on our other local and national news, listen to Time 107.5FM
