Pub bombing memorial plaque is missing

A memorial plaque to the victims of a bombing at a London pub has gone missing.

This plaque dedicated to the bombing victims has gone missing

The metal plaque had been set in a churchyard close to the Admiral Duncan pub in Old Compton Street, where the explosion took place on April 30, 1999.

The tribute features the names of the three people who were killed in the attack: Andrea Dykes, 27, who was four months pregnant and her friends John Light, 32, and Nick Moore, 31.

Westminster Council and anti-hate crime charity 17-24-30 are each paying £130 in sharing the cost to get the memorial replaced in time for the annual gathering of family and friends to mark the anniversary today.

Councillor Ed Argar said: “I find it appalling that anyone would steal the memorial plaque remembering those who died and were injured in the horrific Soho bombing of 1999.

“We have moved swiftly to get a replacement memorial delivered and installed ahead of the 14th anniversary of the Soho bombings.”

Around 70 people were injured in the Admiral Duncan bombing, which was carried out by David Copeland, who planted nail bombs at two other London locations in April 1999.

Copeland was given six life sentences in June 2000, with a minimum of 50 years in prison, for three counts of murder and three counts of causing explosions to endanger life.

Mark Healey, founder of 17-24-30, said: “Taking the memorial is just totally disrespectful to the families of those who died. I am appalled that anybody could do such a thing.”

A two-minute silence will be held today at 6:37pm, the time the bomb exploded. It will be at St Anne’s Gardens, close to the pub and where the memorial is sited.