Tube victims picked at random

Four people have been convicted of plotting to blow up London's transport network on 21 July 2005, two weeks after four suicide bombers blew themselves up and killed 52 people. The passengers involved were a random cross section of society.

CCTV shows Angus Campbell confront Ramzi Mohammed

When Ramzi Mohammed boarded a Northern Line train at Stockwell station in south London on 21 July 2005 his intended victims were complete strangers.

He had no idea whether they shared his views on Islam, the invasion of Iraq or the situation in Afghanistan or Palestinian territories. He did not bother to find out.

He just connected two wires and detonated his device, in a rucksack on his back. Fortunately for his intended victims the main charge did not explode. Nevertheless it was a terrifying experience.

It was just after midday and there were only 30 people on the northbound train and only a handful in the carriage with Mohammed, who was wearing a distinctive New York top.

So who were his fellow passengers?

ANGUS CAMPBELL

Angus Campbell, a firefighter for 21 years, had been working as an instructor at the time and was on his way to work on the day of the attack, wearing a white T-shirt, shorts and sandals on a very warm day.

Mr Mohammed was shouting and screaming and there was an awful lot of smoke in the carriage Angus Campbell

He told the court: "I was sitting down and watching the woman opposite me. The small child was being quite lively and I was mildly amused. I have small children and I often struggle with my own.

"There was an explosion. It was quite loud."

After the initial bang, Mr Campbell led the woman and her son away from where Mohammed was standing.

Angus Campbell spoke of having felt "cowed"

He said: "The woman opposite me was screaming. Mr Mohammed was shouting and screaming and there was an awful lot of smoke in the carriage."

After escorting the woman to the next carriage, Mr Campbell returned and remonstrated with Mohammed, demanding to know what he had done and why a strange sponge-like debris was lying on the carriage floor.

"I was shouting, 'What have you done? What have you done?'... I am just shouting at him. I was quite vociferous. I was probably swearing," he said.

When the train reached Oval station, Mr Campbell ran after Mohammed but lost him.

NADIA BARO

Nadia Baro was sitting with her nine-month-old son facing her in his buggy.

Speaking in a strong west African accent, she said: "I was not really looking around as I was busy with my son and I was getting off at Oval so I stood up to get ready to get off when I heard a noise like a bang and I noticed the person next to me had a rucksack and something came out of it and fell on the floor.

"I realised there was something going on because of what happened on 7 July.

"I was in such panic because I didn't know how bombs work and I thought we were going to die now."

ARAS LOUIS

Aras Louis was on his way to college and was quietly reading a textbook when he heard the bang.

He told the court it had taken him a while to recover from the shock before he could leave the carriage.

"I felt shocked and I couldn't move for a while. I was paralysed. At the last minute I went."

JAMES BOAMPONG

Computer studies student James Boampong was travelling from Stockwell to Oval and first noticed Mohammed on the platform at Stockwell.

He said: "I recall him standing by the wall with a rucksack on his back and mumbling to himself. He was looking straight ahead."

Mr Boampong said he had been wary of him even before the loud bang and afterwards he had fled into the next carriage.

JOHN CAMPBELL

IT support worker John Campbell was on his way to work at the Royal Opera House in central London.

John Campbell (far right) tried to stop Mohammed escaping

He was travelling in the next carriage and was alerted when he heard a noise "like a door slamming".

Passengers from the adjacent carriage opened the interlocking door and came in.

"One of the people was a colleague from the Royal Opera House. She had a look of shock on her face and then relief at seeing someone she knew.

"She was not sure what was going on. She hit the alarm bell."

When they reached Oval station, Mr Campbell said he had tried to trip up Mohammed as he had run along the platform.

He said Mohammed had run up the down escalator and escaped.

ARTHUR BURTON-GARBETT

Former soldier Arthur Burton-Garbett, 72, told the court he had recognised a smell which had reminded him of the explosive cordite, which he recognised from his time testing ammunition in the Army.

Mr Burton-Garbett, an antiquarian bookseller, was on his way to Spitalfields antique market.

I would have been faster but the year before I had a gall bladder removed Arthur Burton-Garbett

He was in the adjoining carriage but when the train reached Oval he joined the pursuit of Mohammed.

The plucky pensioner said he was about nine or 10 steps behind Mohammed on the escalator but "started to run out of steam".

He told the court: "I would have been faster but the year before I had a gall bladder removed, otherwise I'd have been fitter. But nobody helped. They were like dummies."

GEORGE BRAWLEY

Retired engineer George Brawley had a part-time job picking up cars for garages.

He was on his way to pick up a car and was heading to Bank station to change onto the Central Line.

I did my best, but he was too slippery George Brawley

Mr Brawley was in the adjoining carriage and he told of his reaction on hearing the bang: "I thought it was inconceivable that there would be another attack so soon after 7 July. I couldn't believe it was true."

After they stopped at Oval, he described how he had grappled with Mohammed who "came running up the platform like Linford Christie".

"I grabbed him by his forearms. I did not know what to do to stop him. But he broke free easily. He got past me without breaking step. I did my best, but he was too slippery," said Mr Brawley.