A FIRST responder to the July 7 2005 bombings has recalled a “pinch in the stomach” moment when they realised the seriousness of the incident.

Superintendent Anna Bearman was a 23-year-old police constable on the Metropolitan Police response team when suicide bombing attacks took place on three London Underground trains and a bus.

At first, she and her three colleagues were told that there was an incident at King’s Cross, possibly related to a fire.

But Ms Bearman said she remembers the feeling of a “pinch” in her stomach when she realised the situation was much more sinister.

They were diverted to Russell Square and saw dozens of people running out of the station, many suffering from injuries.

She said: “There were walking wounded and a sense of hysteria and panic, but we couldn’t stop and speak to them because we had to get into the tunnel to help those who couldn’t walk out.

“We walked about a mile on the tracks and then we carried one person out who had lost a lower limb, as there were no stretchers and we took them out a mile back to Russell Square.”