A survivor of the 7/7 terror attacks that killed 52 people and injured 700 has told the father of one suicide bomber that she forgives his son.
Lisa French, 44, sat opposite Mahmood Hussain and said she ‘felt sorry’ for suicide bomber Hasib Hussain who blew up the bus she was on.
The 18-year-old’s bomb killed 13 people on the number 30 bus on July 7, 2005.
Lisa French, 44, sat opposite Mahmood Hussain and said she ‘felt sorry’ for bus suicide bomber Hasib Hussain. The pair hugged as they met in Leeds
During an interview with the Mirror , she told Mahmood: ‘Even though he tried to kill me, over the years I have come to realise I have forgiven your son for what he did to me’
And Ms French even said she noticed him as he boarded the bus at Tavistock Square in London on her morning commute.
She thought he seemed polite for taking off his rucksack as he stepped on to the packed bus.
Hasib Hussain detonated a bomb on the Number 30 bus in Tavistock Square, London
During an interview with the Mirror, she told Mahmood: ‘Even though he tried to kill me, over the years I have come to realise I have forgiven your son for what he did to me.’
She told Mahmood she had wanted to meet with him so he knew that at least one person who was on the bus didn’t blame his family.
She added: ‘I feel sorry for your son and how desperate he must have felt that day to do what he did.’
Mahmood, 64, said: ‘My heart is broken. I just walk around like a skeleton. There is no place for terrorism in this country, the best country on Earth.’
He told Ms French how he would have broken his son’s legs to stop him from going to London if he had known what he was planning.
The bomb he set off killed 13 people. His bomb was the fourth of the morning on July 7, 2005. Pictured is Hasib Hussain (top row, centre)
Three other bombs were set off on London Underground trains within 50 seconds of each other at 8.49am
During morning rush hour on July 7, 2005, three bombs were detonated on London Underground trains at 8.49am within 50 seconds of each other.
Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, killed six after he set off his bomb at leaving Edgware Road Tube station.
Shehzad Tanweer, 22, then detonated his bomb between Liverpool Street and Aldgate, killing six.
Germaine Lindsay, 19, then blew up a train between King’s Cross and Russell Square, killing 26.
Later that morning at 9.47am Hasib detonated a fourth bomb on the number 30 bus.
The bombings were Britain’s deadliest terror attack since the Lockerbie bombing in 1988.
Ms French was left with perforated eardrums, broken teeth, cuts and bruises and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mohammad Sidique Khan, 30, killed six after he set off his bomb at leaving Edgware Road Tube station
Shehzad Tanweer, 22, then detonated his bomb between Liverpool Street and Aldgate, killing six. Pictured is CCTV footage of Hasib Hussain arriving at King’s Cross station on the morning of the 7/7 bombings
Later that morning at 9.47am Hasib detonated a fourth bomb on the number 30 bus. Pictured is CCTV footage of Hasib Hussain arriving at King’s Cross station on the morning of the 7/7 bombings
Ms French was left with perforated eardrums, broken teeth, cuts and bruises and suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Hasib Hussain (right)
Left to right: 7/7 bombers, Hasib Hussain, Shehzad Tanweer, Jermaine Lindsay and Mohammad Sidique Khan, which were shown at the inquest into the bombings
Mahmood believes that Hasib (pictured in CCTV footage at Luton station on the morning of the bombings) was radicalised by preachers spreading hate in Leeds
Mahmood told her how his wife has not ‘smiled or laughed’ for the last 14 years and she now works as an interpreter for the NHS in seven hospitals because she wants to help people.
He spoke of how Hasib was well-educated, had studied business and was engaged to marry a woman from Pakistan.
But he believes that Hasib was radicalised by preachers spreading hate in Leeds.
During his meeting with Ms French, in Leeds, he said how he had visited London to see the memorials for the victims of the 7/7 attacks.
He said he had been to King’s Cross station to see the plaque as well as the ‘blood wall’ at the British Medical Association.
He said: ‘I had to touch it as I needed to face that as some of my son’s blood is there as well. Both me and my wife, we felt we had to do that.’
Mahmood has released a book in which he describes his feelings after finding out his son had been involved in the attacks.
He said: ‘I wanted to say something, I don’t want to hurt anyone.
‘I want the public to read this and leave it to them to decide. Instead of preaching hate I want to preach love.’
My Son, the 7/7 Suicide Bomber: A Father’s Anguish, is available on Amazon books.
Proceeds go to Victim Support.
