Minute's silence to remember Birmingham pub bombings victims - 50 years on from the tragedy

Brummies have been urged to mark the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings with a minute's silence later this week. The city will fall silent at 2pm on Thursday, November 21 to remember the 21 victims of the deadly attack, at the time the most deadly terrorist attack on British soil.

21 people were killed, and 182 injured, when bombs exploded at two city centre pubs on the evening of November 21, 1974. Six innocent men served more than 16 years in prison, but the real perpetrators have never been brought to justice.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the brutal attack, Justice 4 the 21 campaigners have called on Brummies to take part in a moment of reflection at 2pm. Julie Hambleton, whose older sister Maxine was killed in the bombings, said the silence was a chance for the city to 'come together' and remember the contributions of ordinary citizens in the aftermath of the bombing.

READ MORE: Why we must never forget about the Birmingham Pub Bombings victims

The minute's silence has been organised by the Justice 4 the 21 group, who continue to fight for a full public enquiry into the tragedy - to this day Britain's largest unsolved murder in recent times. Speaking to BirminghamLive, the group's founder Julie Hambleton said: "It's a chance for people to remember everybody who was involved that night.

"It's not just about remembering the 21 and the survivors - it's also about how the city, on that most evil night, experienced both the worst and best of humanity. This anniversary is about Birmingham, and how in the face of horror and evil, ordinary Brummies did all they could to save so many lives.

"The taxi drivers, for instance, stepped up and became temporary ambulance drivers, taking the wounded and dead to hospital. This year is about them and remembering their valuable contributions - not all heroes wear capes."

A memorial service will be held to mark the anniversary from 1.30pm on the afternoon of November 21, outside New Street Station by the tree memorials. Julie hopes the minute silence will be held across the city.

She added: "It's a chance to bring together the diverse communities of our city in a moment of reflection, and show how reconciliation is possible. The Irish community will be standing alongside us to pay their respects at the memorial.

"We want to show the world how a city can come together and heal those fractures, moving forward in peace and harmony together. People are flying from all over the world to come and pay respects, either for their own dead or just because they support our campaign.

"There’s no words to express how humbling it is to know there are such incredible people out there. This anniversary will be hugely significant for us, it will be something Birmingham has never experienced before."

Twenty-one people died and nearly 200 were injured in the blackest night in the city's recent history. This week, we are marking the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham Pub Bombings, paying tributes to the victims of the devastating attack.