New plaque for Docklands victims

The fatalities were Inan Bashir, 29, and John Jeffries, 31, who were both working at a newsagents yards away from where a half-tonne bomb was detonated at 7.02pm on February 9, 1996.

As the victims met for the unveiling on Monday morning, which was organised by Tower Hamlets Council, it was a stark reminder of the sheer devastation caused that evening.

For Ihsan Bashir, pictured top right, the brother of Inan, the emotional wounds have never healed. He said: "My father died not long after my brother's death. No parent should have to bury his son.

"I will always have the same feelings. I don't think those who commit or support terrorist activities should ever be given positions of power."

Mr Bashir still owns the newsagents at the South Quay Plaza. He was also representing John Jeffries, who was working in the shop alongside Inam.

He said: "We had known John for a long time. We were all very close.

"His father was also deeply affected by this and died five years ago."

Tony Sharp was also at the unveiling of the plaque. He was working in telesales at Franklin Mint and was one of the 39 people injured by the blast.

He said: "If I hadn't moved from the front window just before the explosion I wouldn't be here today.

"In the end I just received lacerations, a broken nose and nearly lost the sight in one eye. It all comes back with a loud bang, like when a car backfires, but apart from that I am lucky."

Jonathan Ganesh, a security guard who was seriously injured in the blast and was in the shop just minutes before the explosion, said: "It is heartwarming to have a memorial. It shows that we don't forget the victims."

The plaque was unveiled by Tower Hamlets' mayor Ahmed Omer.

James McCardle was convicted of conspiracy to cause explosions but later released under the Good Friday Agreement. Many of those injured in the bombing are seeking compensation from the Libyan government, which supplied semtex to the IRA.