Northern Ireland’s victims remembered as UK marks first National Day for terrorism survivors

Victims and survivors of terrorism in Northern Ireland are being remembered today as the UK marks its first dedicated National Day recognising people whose lives have been changed forever by terrorist attacks.

The new annual commemoration takes on particular significance in Northern Ireland, where generations of victims, survivors and bereaved families continue to live with the consequences of the Troubles and subsequent paramilitary terrorism.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Sir Chris Bryant said terrorism had left “deep wounds across generations”, as he paid tribute to the fortitude of those who have endured loss, injury and trauma.

‘Few places have borne more pain than Northern Ireland’

Sir Chris said:

“By definition, terrorism brutalises the innocent. It shatters hope by instilling fear. It leaves a deliberate trail of destruction that is felt in the physical and mental scars of its victims.

“Few places have borne more pain than Northern Ireland, where the prolonged and painful legacy of the Troubles and subsequent acts of paramilitary terrorism, has inflicted deep wounds across generations. I’m amazed and inspired by the fortitude and grace so many victims, survivors, and bereaved families have shown over the years, often suffering in silence.

“As we stand with the victims and survivors of terrorism we commit ourselves anew to keep people safe and remember the past with honesty.”

The National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism will now be observed annually on 21 August, following years of campaigning by victims and survivors for greater recognition and awareness of the lasting impact of terrorism.

Its focus is not only remembrance. The initiative is also intended to raise awareness of the support available to those affected, help victims and survivors access assistance to rebuild their lives, and give greater prominence to their experiences.

Two-minute silence at national ceremony

Hundreds of victims, survivors, bereaved families, emergency responders and government representatives are expected to attend a landmark ceremony in Central London later today.

A two-minute silence will be observed during the event to remember those killed and all those affected by terrorism.

People elsewhere will also be able to take part in the commemoration, with the ceremony due to be livestreamed on the Home Office YouTube channel from 2.30pm today.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the establishment of the National Day was an acknowledgement that, while wider society may move on after an attack, those directly affected can live with its consequences indefinitely.

He said:

“I am proud that we now have a national day to honour victims and survivors of terrorism.

“There is something remarkable about how we come together as a country in those darkest moments. As time passes, most people go back to their lives, but for those who lived through the trauma, there is no return to normality.

“Today matters because it says you are not alone. You have not been forgotten. This is a moment to remember the loved ones lost and anyone who has survived the very worst of humanity.”

Recognition after years of campaigning

Security Minister Dan Jarvis encouraged people across the country to use the day to reflect on the experiences of those affected.

He said:

“I am proud to stand with victims and survivors of terrorism as we mark our first ever National Day.

“I know how much this day will mean to people across the country. I encourage everyone to join us by taking some time to reflect on the experiences of victims, survivors and all those whose lives have been changed forever by terrorism.

“We will never allow terrorism to divide us.”

Head of National Counter Terrorism Policing Laurence Taylor said conversations with victims and survivors were a reminder of the importance of the work carried out by counter-terrorism officers.

He said:

“Whenever I speak to survivors and victims of terrorism, I am reminded why our work is so important. It is their experiences, their trauma, that drives all of us at Counter Terrorism Policing in our mission to keep people safe.

“It is absolutely right that we now have a formal moment of reflection in the national calendar, but we must never forget that many survivors live with the impact of terrorism every day. They are remarkable people, who deserve to be recognised for their resilience and bravery shown in the face of unimaginable horror.”

Survivors hope day will grow in years ahead

Among those who campaigned for greater recognition is Travis Frain OBE, a survivor of the Westminster Bridge attack.

Welcoming the National Day, he said:

“I’m pleased to see this National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism come to fruition, after many hard years of campaigning. This should be a date when we come together as a country to remember those affected by terrorism and set our sights to the future, to understand how we can all play our part in preventing further radicalisation and defeating the spread of violent extremism.

“It is my hope that this event will be one that we can build on in the years to come, demonstrating clearly that the UK stands firm in the face of terrorism.”

M. Victoria Cummock, whose husband John B. Cummock was killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, said the annual event would provide a means of recognising people affected by both recent and historic attacks.

She said:

“We are profoundly grateful to the government for establishing this National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism, recognising the experiences of those affected by terror attacks both recent and historic.

“Each year, it will enable people across the country to gather in solidarity and fraternity to give voice to the hundreds killed, remember their loved ones, and recognise the survivors and responders whose lives were forever changed.

“We take comfort knowing the Support Hub will provide community-wide trauma-informed care, empowering us on our road to healing and recovery. Together we can turn trauma into positive purpose and leave a legacy that teaches the world a lesson in humanity.”

24-hour support available to victims and survivors

The first National Day follows the launch on 1 June of a new Support Hub for Victims of Terrorism, designed to provide specialist, trauma-informed assistance to anyone affected by a terrorist incident.

The service operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with each victim or survivor assigned a single point of contact who can provide tailored support.

According to the government, the Hub has already begun helping victims, survivors and others affected by terrorism, including people who had never previously received support.

The service is intended to remain available regardless of how much time has passed since an incident, recognising that trauma and its consequences can continue — or the need for help can emerge — long after the immediate aftermath of an attack.

Victims and survivors can access the Support Hub online here.

Today’s national ceremony can be watched live from 2.30pm here.

The inaugural commemoration comes after two terrorist attacks during the past 12 months at Heaton Park Synagogue and Golders Green, and ahead of the tenth anniversaries of five terrorist attacks which took place in 2017.

For Northern Ireland, however, the significance of an annual national day reaches much further into the past.

As families and survivors continue to carry the physical and psychological consequences of decades of violence, 21 August will now provide a permanent date in the national calendar to recognise their experiences alongside victims of more recent terrorism — and, in Sir Chris Bryant’s words, to “remember the past with honesty”.