| If I said I was going to central London, they'd stop me. I don't think they're over-reacting, because I agree with them. |
Are we now living in a world where our parents are too afraid to let us do anything? A team of young journalists from Children's Express investigate how the terrorist attacks are affecting young Londoners and how their parents have reacted to them.
Although no children were killed during the London bombings, we know thousands have been affected, including us. It was during class lessons that most of us found out about them, we didn't know what would happen next but we knew we wanted to see if our parents and friends were okay. That night special arrangements were made for those who couldn't get home and the next day hundreds of schools closed. For the first time in our lives we felt unsafe.
Seri Davies, 18, lives in North London and says she will probably never get on the tube again. "I still use the bus, but I'm a lot more wary. For short journeys I tend to walk now. After the bombing I was a bit wary especially as the first bus I got on was the number 30, but now I'm more at ease. I think it's because the trains have got attacked more with the bombs. I definitely am more vigilant, I look around more when I'm alone, I don't sit at the top of the bus and I don't sit at the back. I know I will never get on the tube but I wasn't a big fan of it anyway."
Seri isn't the only one who avoids the underground, 17-year-old Roisin, who lives in Ealing, does too. "I feel less safe, especially in particular parts of London, so I try not to go to those places. I try to use buses instead of the tube, even if it takes longer. My friends are the same, so when we go out we tend to stay close to home, which is annoying because you get bored of going to the same places all the time."
But it's not just us worried about our safety, in fact, it seems our parents are even more worried.
"My parents are a lot more cautious and always ask me where I am. Straight after the attacks my mum was like, don't go around Kings Cross for a while. My parents haven't told me not use public transport because it's the only way that I can get from A to B. But, they do say be careful and be aware and if I see anything suspicious get off," says Seri.
Saadia Akerbouse lives in London and has three children and even she feels scared about using public transport: "You don't know what can happen. A bomb can just explode at any minute. I worry a lot about my children because they go out and use public transport and there could be someone there that can let a bomb off. But, I can't stop them from using public transport because they have to go to school and go out. I keep on telling them they have to stay in safe places and stuff."
But some parents have even stopped their children using public transport altogether. This includes Roisin's mum and dad: "If I said I was going to central London, they'd stop me. I don't think they're over-reacting, because I agree with them. This will definitely change my summer though - it already has. I was looking forward to going to lots of places in central London and making the most of living in London, but it's not worth risking it."
Adrianna has four young children and works in Clerkenwell and says she would do the same, "I won't let them go on the tubes or the buses. They have no need to go on them, so I'll keep them off, even in the summer holidays. We won't come into London, or go about in London."
We spoke to her 10-year-old daughter Giovana as well who says because of her mum's ban she's missing out on stuff: "I feel a bit annoyed because we could have gone to the science museum or the natural history museum by the bus or the train. So, I feel a bit annoyed. I don't feel so afraid around in London. The only thing I am afraid of is where the bombs have actually hit. I don't think she is over-reacting though, she is just doing it to keep us safe."
Some of our parents were worried too and we understand their concern because they have the responsibility of looking after us. Even though they might restrict us we know they're doing it for the best.
The attacks on London have not just affected children and young people in Britain. Teenagers in America awoke to news of the bombs and Shauna, 17, who lives in New York says, "I was very worried and was thinking about how many people got hurt and whether I knew anybody who was in London. I also thought about if I knew anybody who would know anybody who could have been hurt. I felt lots of sympathy and empathy for those people."
Shauna told us that it brought back lots of old memories for her. "It was very bad because it reminded us of when we were attacked ourselves. We were scared and we know you guys are scared and frightened, but then we also know what it's like to overcome something like that. We have to be strong and show the terrorists that they don't have power over you."
Samantha, 15, who also lives there, agrees: "We can relate to the people of London because about 5 years ago the same thing happened to us. It feels horrible to be under attack by terrorists, so we know how you feel. We understand that it's a horrible time for your country."
But, it's not just us they were worried about, 11-year-old Jah'sway, says "we were really worried and were thinking that it could probably happen to us again. We were scared."
Even though they said they were worried they were still positive. "I think it's a sad thing to have happened but it probably brought your country together and made you more aware of what can happen," says Shauna.
And Jah'sway agrees: "I think the bombing in London was very sad but it will bring the country together and make everybody feel close and united."
And we agree with them. Even though we have experienced something really bad it makes us feel that Britain has to stick together. We still have to use the public transport to go to school and we still have to get on with our everyday lives. We want things to go back to normal and show the terrorists that they will never win.
About the team
This story was produced by Georgia Edwards, 10, and Nazia Driver, 15. The interviews were done by Ghizlan, 12, Lathaniel, 15, Annabelle, 17, Danielle, 13, Kamal, 14, Ginisha, 15, and Sonti, 15. It was published by Reach For The Sky website.
