Over the last decade, 67 Britons were killed in the September 11 attacks in 2001, 26 died in the Bali bombings a year later and 52 lost their lives in the July 7 attacks of 2005. Hundreds of soldiers fighting in Afghanistan have also been killed in a conflict sparked by the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
Yesterday, people not accustomed to condoning violence found themselves applauding the violent end to bin Laden.
Pauline and Charles Berkeley lost their 37-year-old son Graham in the 9/11 attacks. He was on the fated United Airlines flight 175 heading to Los Angeles which was hijacked and then crashed into the South Tower, killing all on board.
Speaking from her home in Shrewsbury, Mrs Berkeley said they were delighted the hunt for bin Laden had come to an end.
“We are just so happy to know that he has been killed,” she said.
“We are not vindictive people, we do not normally rejoice at the death of someone, but I am afraid he was a very wicked man.
“All the people he had been training to be wicked as well – I just hope that they realise that life is for living and not for killing.”
Patricia Bingley, from London, who lost her only son Kevin Dennis, 43, in the 9/11 attacks said her primary emotion was relief.
“I have been waiting 10 years to hear this news,” she said. “It’s a great relief to me. I never thought I would live to see it happen.
Categories: UK