During his second term , Livingstone continued his support for London 's bid to host the 2012 Olympic Games , playing a crucial role in securing vital Russian support for the bid . On 6 July 2005 , in a ceremony held in Singapore attended by Livingstone , London was announced as the victor , resulting in widespread celebration . The following day , British-born Islamist suicide bombers undertook three attacks on the Underground and another on a bus , killing 52 civilians . Livingstone gave a speech from Singapore denouncing the attackers as terrorists , before immediately returning to London . Informing the BBC that Western foreign policy was largely to blame for the attacks , his response to the situation was widely praised , even by opponents . Fearing an Islamophobic backlash against the city 's Muslim minority , he initiated an advertising campaign to counter this , holding a rally for inter-community unity in Trafalgar Square . A second , failed suicide bombing attack took place on 21 July , and in the aftermath police officers shot dead a Brazilian tourist , Jean Charles de Menezes , whom they mistook for a bomber . Police initially misrepresented the killing , resulting in widespread condemnation , although Livingstone defended the actions of Metropolitan Police commissioner Ian Blair
second , failed suicide bombing attack
21 July 2005 London bombings
Ken Livingstone