The United Kingdom is marking its first National Day for Victims and Survivors of Terrorism, establishing 21 August as an annual date of remembrance for people whose lives have been
permanently changed by terrorist attacks.
The inaugural day brings together victims, survivors, bereaved families, emergency responders, counter-terrorism professionals and government representatives in a national act of remembrance. A ceremony in central London will include a two-minute silence for those killed or affected by terrorism, while events across the country will give communities an opportunity to reflect on the lasting consequences of terrorist violence.
The new national observance follows years of campaigning by victims and survivors, who have called for greater recognition of their experiences and a stronger public understanding of the long-term impact of terrorism.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the day was intended not only to remember those who had been lost, but also to recognise that surviving a terrorist attack can have consequences that continue long after the immediate crisis has passed.
“Most people eventually return to their everyday lives,” he said, “but for those who have experienced terrorism, life may never return to what it was before.”
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said the first National Day should encourage people across the country to listen to the experiences of victims and survivors and remember how terrorism can affect individuals, families and communities for decades.
He said the country would continue to stand together in the face of terrorism and reject attempts to use violence to divide society.
Laurence Taylor, head of National Counter Terrorism Policing, said the experiences of victims and survivors remain central to the work of those responsible for preventing future attacks.
He said the creation of a permanent national day was an important recognition of the resilience of people who have endured terrorist violence, while stressing that many survivors continue to live with its consequences every day.
For Westminster Bridge attack survivor Travis Frain OBE, the establishment of the day represents the culmination of years of campaigning. He said it should become an annual opportunity not only to remember those affected, but also to consider how society can prevent radicalisation and counter violent extremism.
Victoria Cummock, whose husband John B. Cummock was killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, welcomed the initiative as recognition of victims of both recent and historic attacks.
She said the annual commemoration would give communities an opportunity to remember those killed, honour survivors and recognise emergency responders whose lives were also changed by terrorism.
The first National Day comes against the backdrop of two terrorist attacks in the UK over the past year, at Heaton Park Synagogue and in Golders Green. It also precedes the tenth anniversaries in 2027 of five attacks carried out in 2017, a year that saw terrorist incidents in Westminster, Manchester, London Bridge, Finsbury Park and Parsons Green.
The government has linked the new day of remembrance to wider efforts to improve long-term assistance for victims and survivors. In June, it launched the Support Hub, a dedicated service providing specialist, trauma-informed assistance to people affected by terrorist incidents.
The service is available around the clock and gives each victim or survivor a single point of contact who can coordinate support according to their individual circumstances. Assistance is available through the Hub's website and by telephone, including for people who have never previously sought help.
The government says the initiative is designed to ensure that support does not end when the immediate aftermath of an attack is over, recognising that trauma and its consequences can emerge or continue years later.
The annual National Day will therefore serve both as a moment of remembrance and as a reminder of the continuing responsibility to support those living with the consequences of terrorism.
With 21 August now established in the national calendar, the government says it intends to develop the commemorations in future years while continuing to strengthen practical support for victims, survivors and bereaved families. Photo by David Dixon, Wikimedia commons.
