Civil servants feared inquiry into 7/7 bombings would focus negatively on Muslims in Britain

Senior civil servants warned ministers that if they ordered a public inquiry into the July 7, 2005 suicide bombings it could "focus negatively" on Britain's Muslim community. The warning was delivered in a briefing paper to Charles Clarke, the then-home secretary, as he considered whether or not to launch an inquiry into the 2005 bombings, in which 52 innocent people were killed. In the paper, Sir John Gieve, the Home Office permanent secretary, said that upsetting Muslims would be a "potential cost" of ministers agreeing to demands for a full inquiry. After receiving Sir John's paper, Mr Clarke decided not to order a public inquiry – a decision which infuriated many survivors and relatives of those killed.