Event 'not for bombers' families'

52 people died in the 7 July attacks on London

The families of the suicide bombers who carried out the 7 July London attacks will not be invited to the victims' memorial service, officials have said.

It comes after two leading Anglican bishops told the Sunday Times such invitations would send a message of reconciliation to Muslims.

A Department of Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said inviting bombers' families would not be appropriate.

But she also stressed that no blame was attached to the bombers' families.

We have to look forward, not back, forward to a society in which Muslims and Christians live together amicably in an integrated community Bishop of Sheffield

"Although we know they were not responsible, we think it would not be acceptable for the families of the bombers to be present at the service.

"It was something that we considered very early on.

"It was something that we felt we needed to take a very clear decision on and it was a very easy one."

It would not be fair for the families of the bombers to sit beside a mother or father who has lost a son or daughter, she said.

She also said it would also not be fair on the families of the bombers to be confronted by the families of the 52 people who were killed in the blasts.

However, the Bishop of Newcastle told the Sunday Times that such an invitation would recognise that these families had lost too.

'Look forward'

"It will acknowledge the wickedness of the act and the grief and devastation it has caused," Bishop Martin Wharton said.

His counterpart in the Sheffield diocese, Bishop Jack Nicholls, also supported the move, saying: "We have to look forward, not back, forward to a society in which Muslims and Christians live together amicably in an integrated community."

In an ideal situation people from different faiths, or none, should be able to express grief and sorrow together, he said.

But he also told the BBC News Website that the families should be consulted on such a move.

He added that if such a suggestion were to bring more anger between communities it would not be a risk worth taking.

Although the DCMS spokeswoman acknowledged that the families of the bombers had lost people, she pointed out the service at St Paul's in November was for victims.