Priest's dash to help bomb victims

Father Peter Needham: A miracle no one was killed

By BBC News Online's Denise Winterman

A veteran of the Gulf War, Father Peter Needham knew a huge explosive device had gone off as soon as he heard the blast from the Ealing car bomb.

Father Needham was in the vicarage house at Ealing Christ the Saviour Church, close to the spot on the Uxbridge Road where the bomb was left.

I just don't understand what is to be gained by doing something like this

Father Peter Needham

He ran straight to the scene. When he arrived seconds later he said the smoking wreckage of the car littered the street and people were running around, dazed and terrified.

"I just knew instantly that the loud explosion was a bomb, I know the sound after serving in the Gulf War" he said.

The windows of nearby shops had been blown out and the ceiling of one had collapsed. Water was also gushing from a damaged water main.

He said a group of off-duty police officers, who had been enjoying a night out in the area when the device exploded, started to help the injured.

'Could have been carnage'

"They were in shock themselves but they functioned amazingly well. Their concern was for the safety of others and their response was tremendous," he said.

Father Needham gave first aid before emergency services arrived

Father Needham, and a friend who is a nurse, tried to calm people down and treat those who were injured.

"It is a miracle that no one was killed," he said.

"It is a busy area and if a bus had been passing when the bomb went off there or if the pubs had been turning out it would have been carnage.

"I just don't understand what is to be gained by doing something like this."

After helping at the scene Father Needham, who is also Ealing Police Chaplain, went to Ealing Police Station to support the off-duty police officers who had helped out and others who had attended the scene.

After a long night, he has spent most of the morning helping people come to terms with what has happened and dealing with other problems the bomb triggered.

'Agony'

A funeral due to take place at his church on Friday morning had to be cancelled until Monday, causing added heartache for the grieving family.

He also had to negotiated with police to let one of his parishioners back into his flat in the area officers had cordoned off to retrieve his passport so he could attend his father's funeral in India.

"The bomb just prolongs the agony for these people but that is what the bombers want," he said.

"I am here this weekend to listen to people. It doesn't sound like much, but people usually want to talk at times like this and what they are feeling needs to come out."

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