7/7 memorial unveiled in Hyde Park PA

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A MEMORIAL in Hyde Park to those killed on 7/7 has been defaced by vandals, in an act branded “pathetic and appalling” by relatives of the victims.

Grahame Russell, whose son Philip died in the Tavistock Square bus bombing, said the foul-mouthed graffiti had upset many of the families who lost loved ones in 2005.

"I think it's appalling, it's a sad indictment of our times," he said. "I don't understand the mentality of people."

Russell was on the advisory board for the monument, which was dedicated on 7 July, the fourth anniversary of the attacks on London's transport network.

Vandals struck within two weeks of the memorial's unveiling, scrawling obscenities.

"It's pathetic and appalling and has upset quite a lot of the families," Russell said.

"There is absolutely no reason to deface a memorial, especially if they live in London - it could have been one of them."

"I think it's appalling, it's a sad indictment of our times"

A spokeswoman for The Royal Parks, which is responsible for the memorial, said: "Today we were saddened to discover a small amount of graffiti on one of the pillars of the 7 July Memorial.

"We are now in the process of removing the graffiti and the police are aware of the situation."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police are investigating criminal damage to the 7/7 memorial in Hyde Park."

He said no arrests had been made and that inquiries are continuing.

The memorial is made up of 52 stainless steel columns, or stelae, 11.5ft (3.5m) tall.

Each one is unique and they have been grouped together in four clusters, reflecting the separate locations of the bombings - Tavistock Square, Edgware Road, King's Cross and Aldgate.

Four suicide bombers detonated their rucksack devices near these locations on the morning of 7 July 2005, killing the 52 and injuring hundreds of others, some seriously.