Special Report: 1st anniversary of London bombings

A memorial plaque for the victims of the July 7, 2005 London bombings is seen in Victoria Embankment Gardens in London, July 6, 2006. Memorial services and a national two minutes silence will take place across London on Friday. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Injured subway passengers are escorted away after six explosions that simultaneously rocked central London July 7, 2005. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo)

    LONDON, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Britain marked on Friday the first anniversary of the London terrorist attacks, in which more than 50 people were killed in a series of suicide bombings.

    The day of remembrance started at 8:50 a.m. with London Mayor Ken Livingstone and Commissioner of Transport for London Peter Hendy laying flowers at King's Cross station to coincide with the timing of the attacks.

    Livingstone's message read: "London will never forget those we lost on July 7, 2005, and we will build a better city as the best way of remembering them."

    British Prime Minister Tony Blair said the anniversary was an opportunity for "the whole nation to come together."

    "This is a time when our country unites across all races, religions and divides and stands in solidarity with all those who have suffered so much in sympathy with them and in defense of the values we share," he was quoted by Sky news as saying.

    Memorial plaques were laid at the blast sites, with survivors and families of the victims invited to view them.

    A two-minute national silence at noon is part of the event to commemorate the bombings and remember the 52 victims.

    Security across London was tight for the event amid fears that terrorists could launch another attack.

    Later on Friday, three female singers from London, will perform Song of Doves, written by the family of a bombing victim.

    The day will end with a public ceremony at Regent's Park in west London late in the afternoon when the names of the 52 victims will be read out.

    The bombings on London's transport system on July 7, 2005, were later found out to be the acts of home-grown British citizens. A total of 52 people were killed and more than 700 others wounded during the attacks. Enditem